Conor Maynard Releases “By Your Side”
Conor Maynard recently released a new track, “By Your Side.” Maynard’s most recent single is the second of a series, inspired by his challenging breakup during the winter of 2022. The song captures the emotional chaos of witnessing the end of a cherished relationship that you desperately want to hold onto. Through “By Your Side,” the pop star aims to send a message to his fans who supported him during his hiatus from social media and provided comfort during his post-breakup recovery period. Check out the single and music video below!
“I received a lot of messages when I came back online, from fans and even just people that related to the feeling of wanting to take a break from the pressures of social media,” Maynard recalls. “I realized just how many people have been through a similar notion, even when the circumstances that have led to that decision are different. For that reason, I kept the lyrics of By Your Side a little more open, so it can be interpreted to fit all different types of relationship; romantic, friendships, family, and all different reasons for letting go, whether it be through just going your separate ways, or in the hardest of scenarios, death.”
Maynard’s release, “By Your Side,” follows his previous single “If I Ever,” which serves as the first taste of his upcoming slate of material, loosely inspired by his difficult breakup. Through intensely personal songwriting and newfound confidence gained from touring worldwide, these releases signal a creative shift for Maynard, allowing his abundant youthful talent to flourish and lead him into new realms of artistry and imagination. Along with the release of “If I Ever,” Maynard directed and produced the music video that delves into themes of trust and suspicion in relationships, highlighting the divergent paths that these emotions can lead us down.
Conor Maynard – Music History
Back in 2012, Maynard gained fame after winning MTV’s Brand New For 2012 award, alongside other artists like Delilah, Michael Kiwanuka, Lana Del Rey, and Lianne La Havas. His signing with Parlophone marked a milestone, becoming one of the first home-grown talents to successfully transition from an online presence to real-world pop-stardom. This accomplishment demonstrated the power of digital audiences and opened new doors for many aspiring artists.
After receiving mentorship from Ne-Yo, Maynard released his debut album, Contrast, which topped the charts and spawned five Top 10 singles. The album propelled him to global fame, with his YouTube channel alone amassing 13.3 million subscribers and 2.5 billion views. He went on to tour the world, win several awards, and collaborate with major artists such as Pharrell Williams, The Invisible Men, and Rita Ora. Maynard’s versatility was on full display when he starred in the Broadway show Kinky Boots, further cementing his status as a multifaceted talent.
But 10 years after the debut album that changed his life, Maynard realized it was time for him to go at it alone. He left his label and took his career to new and unchartered heights, racking up over 300 million streams in 2021 alone, without any major player backing. It takes his worldwide reach to a staggering scale: Streams of his music surpassed two billion, and he quickly become the seventh-most-followed TikTok music account in the U.K., despite only joining the platform in 2020. The decision also allowed him to bring his music to new, adventurous heights, with a sense of artistic liberation lying at the heart of his new material.
Watch the video for By Your Side above, listen to the track on your preferred DSP HERE, sample more from Conor Maynard below, and follow him on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Stay tuned to MusicOnTheRox.com for all your music news and reviews.