GEOFF DOWNES And CHRIS BRAIDE Announce Sixth DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION Album 'Trauma'

DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION (DBA),the studio collaboration of Geoff Downes (keyboards) and multi award-winning songwriter Chris Braide (vocals),is set to release its sixth studio album, "Trauma", on September 25 via Cherry Red Records.

"Trauma" is a return to the expansive DNA of classic DBA, with long-form pieces sitting comfortably alongside tracks like the epic melodic rock and cinematic songwriting that has always defined with Chris Braide and Geoff Downes together.

The road to "Trauma" began overlooking the river Thames in Richmond before taking on new life beneath the skies of Los Angeles. The songs ultimately found their true identity back in the Gloucestershire countryside and South Wales, while the album was completed with mastering in Devon. Fittingly, a record centered on resilience followed a journey of its own before reaching its final form.

Chris Braide explains, "These songs emerged from the cracks. 'Trauma' is about the ghosts we inherit, the wounds we hide, and the light that still finds its way through. In the end, it is not an album about suffering, but survival. 'Trauma' isn't an album about defeat — it's about what happens after. It's about carrying your scars with dignity, refusing to be diminished, and remembering that kindness and perseverance ultimately outlast cruelty and fear. Making music with Geoff continues to be one of the great privileges of my career."

Geoff Downes adds: "Working with Chris on our DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION albums is always a great inspirational and joyous experience for me. In 'Trauma', our sixth studio album, we have dug deep into our respective layers and reservoirs of emotion, a theme of darkness followed by light — something we both could relate to. And in particular on this album, we have explored numerous diverse influences characterizing the contrast of these polarized emotions. For instance, our epic long track 'Lake Of Memories' begins with a quasi-classical bombastic intro and immediately jumps into a fast trance-like up-tempo techno workout — it's pomp-rock straight into pop-rock! And it's Chris at his absolute best, grabbing my ideas and working them into some kind of intricate musical kaleidoscope. I think it's what contributes to our uniqueness, and this album is one we are immensely proud of. Sit down, turn it up, listen and enjoy the 'traumatic' DBA journey!"

You can watch the music video for the first single, "Wonderland", below.

About the new single, Downes says: "The notion of leaving behind something, someone, or your roots whilst retaining a nostalgic connection is a common recurring theme amongst a number of mine and Chris's songs. Within 'Wonderland', we have aimed to convey hope and optimism in the musical sections leading up to and culminating in an uplifting chorus — 'Wonderland', a discovery of a new and changing life. It's a powerful statement, and a song we are proud to present to you."

Braide adds: "'Wonderland' is about the intense psychological friction of breaking away from rigid family hierarchies and institutional structures — the inescapable systems of control that dictate your life through school, work, and the society beyond. It's a tribute to the resilience of my parents' generation in the North West, but it also confronts the severe survivor's guilt of permanently severing those chains. Walking away from those deep-rooted structures is a profound form of death and rebirth; you are forever followed by the ghosts of that old reality, constantly wondering if the people left behind ever found their own version of paradise amidst the struggle."

"Trauma" returns the band lineup of Dave Bainbridge (guitars),Andy Hodge (bass) and Ash Soan (drums) and additional drums from Tim Weller.

The album features an impressive lineup of guest contributors, including Marc Almond on "Juliet", and Emmi on "Love And Loss", as well as narration from Delilah Barrett. The late David Longdon, a longtime DBA collaborator, also appears through flute performances recorded during the band's 2018 sessions. Rounding out the guest appearances are Andy Partridge, Barney Ashton-Bullock and Dean Johnson, each contributing original poems to the album booklet.

About the album cover, Downes says: "With 'Trauma' as anticipated, Roger has come up with yet another blockbuster of his iconic artwork. Roger was working in parallel and getting inspiration from some of our song titles. The result is a starkness to the painting, but with a chink of light in there representing aspirations for the future, all overseen by a semi-concealed 'wise' owl — another of Roger's signature nods to nature. It truly is an exceptional work of art, and we are most grateful to have such a genius in our midst collaborating, coordinating and combining our music with his visuals."

Track listing:

01. Hello, Hello (4:57)
02. Trauma (8:20)
03. King Of Karma (4:53)
04. Wonderland (5:12)
05. Love And Loss (3:16)
06. I Wish I'd Known (4:11)
07. Do You Remember? (4:54)
08. Juliet (2:24)
09. Lake Of Memories (14:29)
10. Wherever You Are Now (5:44)

DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION, the studio-based project by Geoff Downes and Chris Braide, has previously produced five studio albums: "Pictures Of You" (2012),"Suburban Ghosts" (2015),"Skyscraper Souls" (2017),"Halcyon Hymns" (2021),"Celestial Songs" (2023) as well as a live album "Live In England" (2019). The project draws on Downes's and Braide's rich musical heritage to create a delightfully accessible brand of progressive rock.

Keyboard wizard Geoff Downes was thrust into the limelight in 1979 with the worldwide success of "Video Killed The Radio Star" while in THE BUGGLES with Trevor Horn (vocals, bass guitar). The duo briefly joined prog legends YES before Downes became a founding member of the supergroup ASIA with YES guitarist Steve Howe, ELP drummer Carl Palmer and the late John Wetton (vocals, bass guitar). The Wetton-Downes composition "Heat Of The Moment" became a worldwide hit and remains a staple on radio to this day. Downes later rejoined YES in 2011 and remains with the band alongside Steve Howe.

British singer-songwriter-pianist Chris Braide has enjoyed enormous success writing and producing music for film scores, advertising campaigns and working closely with artists including Sia, Lana Del Rey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears and Marc Almond. An Ivor Novello Award winner and Grammy nominee, Braide recently earned a BMI Pop Award for co-writing Sia's "Unstoppable", her eighth U.S. Top 40 hit and biggest-selling U.S. single.