Commoner’s new single ‘Passerby’ out now

Emo/alternative band Commoner recently announced the release of their forthcoming debut album, “Former Self”, set to arrive on 13th November 2026 via Pure Noise Records. Today, they release the insistent, urgent rush ofthe single, “Passerby”.

“‘Passerby’ has always had a more literal meaning for the band. For me, the song is a way to send a personal message to someone I’ll never speak to again—a chance to express everything I once held back.” says singer Romin Mattison.

Album “Former Self” is produced by long-time collaborator Zach Tuch and is an album that’s very much about looking back at the past, it’s as equally concerned with moving forward. After all, your former self could be a version of you from a decade ago—or from yesterday—and even in the six months since the previous track “Breach” came out, the band’s style has evolved. “Breach”, the band say, was a stop-gap, an introduction, a bridge between the past and the present. “Former Self”, somewhat ironically given its title, is a full-hearted representation of who Commoner are now.

“The album has a lot of themes of childhood and your own former self,” says “Former Self”, “but it also discusses how people around you have changed—and missing somebody else’s former self. We have songs that look back on how you yourself used to be back in the day, but we have songs about how everyone else has changed too.” 

It all makes for a moving document about human nature, about the inevitability of growing older, of the self-awareness that who you are isn’t who you were, even if it feels that way. It’s a joint commiseration, celebration and commemoration, all wrapped up in one, but delivered with the exuberance and promise of youth.

“Former Self is a window of reflection for each of our lives. For what it’s been and how we’ve learned to move forward. People change, situations change, life is full of it.  As a band, we have always gravitated towards the works of bands who touch on moments of time as they are your own. Instances in which the experience has felt shared, rather than being preached. Our debut full length was a meditative piece for all of the members, and has allowed us to close a chapter in our writing that we had all felt needed conclusion.” – Romin Mattison (Vocals)

LISTEN TO “PASSERBY” HERE

PRE ORDER “FORMER SELF” HERE

“FORMER SELF” TRACKLISTING:

1. Cobalt Blue (feat. Split Chain)
2. Passerby
3. In Reserve
4. Cemetery Dogs
5. Sparks
6. Sirens A Block Away
7. Runner Up
8. Former Self
9. As Cold As It Gets
10. Appendix