‘When Life Catches You By Surprise’ is the latest track from Liverpool artist Astles. He intertwines lyrical depth and soothing melodies, with a tapestry of indie guitars and piano arpeggios gradually crescendoing towards its climactic strings. He describes this new cut as “a song about falling in love with someone all over again. Life is always throwing unexpected things our way, some awful, some beautiful. This song was written in direct response to a moment of overwhelming bliss.” There’s a reason Paul McCartney is a fan of Astles. Keep an eye out for more new music in 2024, and catch him live in Liverpool on December 7th for his fourth Christmas show. -Dan Peeke