Leave The Light On - Marie Franc

Leave The Light On - Single Artwork

We’ve been a bit behind on our inbox lately, but good things come to those who scroll, buried in the pile was an email from Manchester-based dream-folk five-piece Marie Franc.

Fronted by singer-songwriter Rachel Maria Francesca (the inspiration behind the band name), the line-up features Travis and Kez on guitars, Dan on drums, and their newest addition, Ben, on bass. They’ve been making quiet but impressive moves this year, and their latest offering, "Leave The Light On", drops 22nd August.

This is their second single of 2025, following an early spin on BBC Introducing Manchester and serving as the next glimpse into their debut EP Saturday Boy. On paper, it’s billed as a dream pop and soul-tinged indie track, in reality, it’s something you feel before you even try to label it.

Clocking in at 4:14, the song eases in with a lo-fi guitar intro that feels like it’s leaning in to tell you a secret. Rachel’s folk-fused, intimate vocal tone drifts in, immediately bringing to mind the atmospheric beauty of Antent and Genie Cassini’s If There’s No Tomorrow. It’s rich, warm, and cinematic, the kind of track you close your eyes to and get lost in. The production, co-written by the band and produced with Mike Duce (Lower Than Atlantis), lets every element breathe, from the sultry guitar textures to the hypnotic bass lines, carrying an understated confidence.

"Marie Franc have found that rare space where dream pop’s haze meets soul’s heartbeat — Leave The Light On is intimate, cinematic, and impossible not to feel." – NottsRocks

Lyrically, Leave The Light On is rooted in nostalgia and the bittersweet art of letting go, saying goodbye to someone or something that’s no longer right for you, while still feeling the echo of what they left behind. There’s a tension between yearning and moving forward, a lingering perfume of a past lover as you step into something new.

It passed the NottsRocks quality test for likeability and replay value — I was smiling halfway through the first listen. And clearly, Marie Franc are connecting with more than just us. They’ve recently played a sold-out headline show, hit the main stage at Moovin Festival alongside Ezra Collective, and have more live dates lined up this autumn.

For fans of Alvvays, Lianne La Havas, Aldous Harding, or Drugdealer, Marie Franc are weaving themselves into that sweet spot where dream pop’s haze meets soul’s heartbeat. Keep them firmly on your radar, they’re one of those bands you’ll be smug about discovering early.

"Leave The Light On" is out 22nd August 2025 on all major streaming platforms, accompanied by a music video, stick it in your diaries.

📸 Follow: @mariefrancmusic
📧 Contact: management@mariefranc.co.uk

The Band.