When In Rome questions “Human Nature” in new single, asking why humans are unkind to each other over their differences.
Legendary English synth-pop duo When in Rome (Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann) has a new single titled “Human Nature.” The song is a dark and driving single that pairs dance floor energy with timely social commentary.
The song is written during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting on a period marked by uncertainty, isolation, and growing polarization. Beneath its pulsing rhythms and powerful electronic production is a meditation on human nature, as the title suggests. As vocalist Clive Farrington explains:
Human Nature’ explores why people can be unkind to one another over political, religious, or personal differences. The song suggests that this behavior is an inherent part of the human experience.
The Creative Process
The song emerged when Farrington was introduced to Ryan Roth through longtime collaborator Colin Wood (Coleurs). After receiving the instrumental track from Jones, Farrington immediately connected with its energy. The lyrics and vocal melody emerged spontaneously while recording, flowing directly onto the tape rather than being carefully planned.
The collaboration brought a fresh dynamic to the band’s songwriting process. Jones injected a new level of energy and urgency into the production while maintaining the synth-driven sounds of the 1980s. This helped shape the track to be both familiar and contemporary.
The production played a crucial role – built around tough drums, a commanding bass line, and an undeniable dance floor pulse.
There were other collaborators in the recording process. Al Judd (Information Society, Devo, Wang Chung, The Fixx) crafted the pre-production mixes, while Nick Jackson (producer of The Fixx) refined the track. The final mixing was handled by Devon Loughheed to elevate the song into the polished and cinematic song it is today.
Lyrically, “Human Nature” captures the tension and uncertainty that defined the pandemic era, but is still relevant in the present day. The observations it lays out are both personal and universal, confronting the divisions that separate people.
When In Rome as we know now consists of Farrington and Mann. The original band disbanded in 1993, but the duo regrouped in 2004.
The band came up with the name “When in Rome” after using the famous proverb to note the cultural differences between Manchester (their hometown) and London (where they moved when they got a record deal). The band is best known for their 1988 single “The Promise,” which is still being used in films today, as well as experiencing a resurgence on social media.
In 2024, the band released their first new single in many years called “2 Fix Us.” The band is also gearing up for the release of their new album Illumination. Farrington notes that they wanted to have a dance feel to the whole album, so we can look forward to that.
“Human Nature” is out now in all streaming platforms.
Press Release
