Boy Rose Cranks Up the New Wave Urgency on Don’t Turn Away

By Chris Kennedy | Published 4th Oct, 2026

There’s something particularly exciting about a side project where the normal rules get thrown out the window. For Boy Rose, that means putting the guitar down, firing up the synths and seeing where the whole thing leads.

The brainchild of Mark Russell, guitarist with Belfast funk-rock outfit Mr Pink, Boy Rose emerged in 2026 as an outlet for a collection of synth-driven songs that had been quietly gathering dust without a proper home.

But there’s a bigger idea at play here too.

Taking cues from the collaborative spirit of Gorillaz, Russell has opened Boy Rose up to other voices from the local music scene, pairing different singers and musicians with his electronic songwriting. After introducing the project with debut single The Only Girl, featuring YAZ - aka Yasmin Fitzpatrick of Belfast/Bangor synth-pop indie outfit Running Out The Clock - Boy Rose is back with its second collaborative outing, Don’t Turn Away.

And this time, things get considerably darker.

Synths, Grit and a Hint of New Order

Don’t Turn Away wastes little time establishing its intentions. Driven by a persistent electronic pulse, sharp synth hooks and gritty new wave production, there’s an unmistakable nod towards New Order in the track’s musical DNA. But rather than simply indulging in nostalgia, Boy Rose uses those influences as a jumping-off point.

The synths keep everything moving forward while the melody gradually builds towards a chorus that feels surprisingly uplifting given the darker subject matter bubbling underneath.

At its heart, Don’t Turn Away explores that uncomfortable point where the honeymoon period of a relationship begins to collapse. The idealised version of someone starts to disappear, layers are peeled back and something considerably darker begins to emerge.

Eventually, there’s only one thing left to do: get out.

Adam Mullan Channels His Inner Ian Curtis

For Don’t Turn Away, Russell keeps things close to home by recruiting his Mr Pink bandmate Adam Mullan on vocals.

Following a Mr Pink rehearsal, Russell played Adam the backing track during the journey home - apparently a fairly regular occurrence between the pair, with demos frequently getting passed around in the car whether they’re intended for Mr Pink or not.

Adam immediately heard something in it.

His eventual vocal takes some obvious inspiration from the deep, guttural delivery associated with Ian Curtis, but there’s another dimension to the performance too. An almost operatic quality creeps into the bigger moments, giving the vocal considerably more drama than a straightforward post-punk impersonation would have delivered.

Boy Rose Takes the Pink Glasses on Tour

And then there’s the video.

The accompanying music video sees Russell sporting the pink glasses that have become part of the emerging Boy Rose identity as he makes his way through Belfast.

Things don't stay local for long, though.

Before the journey is finished, we’re treated to rather more exotic surroundings including Hollywood, the Grand Canyon and Lanzarote, before Russell eventually arrives at Adam’s house to pass on the mysterious pink glasses.

There’s a playful DIY personality to the Boy Rose concept that works nicely against the darker, more serious tone of the music itself. The pink glasses give the project a simple visual signature, while the collaborative setup means there’s plenty of room for that identity to evolve as new musicians enter the picture.

Final Verdict | Boy Rose - Dont Turn Away

Don’t Turn Away is a confident second outing from Boy Rose, marrying pulsing synths and gritty new wave production with an imposing vocal performance from Adam Mullan.

The shadows of New Order and Joy Division are easy to spot, but the track has enough personality to avoid becoming an exercise in retro worship. Most importantly, Russell’s decision to leave the guitar behind gives the song space to establish an identity of its own.

Dark without becoming miserable, melodic without sanding away its rough edges, ‘Don’t Turn Away’ feels like another intriguing piece of the Boy Rose puzzle.

The single, Dont Turn Away, is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: Boy Rose