Buffalo's Free Henry! Returns with New Single "You Slay Me" - First Studio Release in Over 14 Years

BUFFALO, NY - After more than 14 years since their last studio release, Buffalo-based rock band Free Henry! announces their long-awaited return with the new single "You Slay Me." The band will celebrate the release with a YouTube Premiere on their official channel (@FreeHenryBand) on February 14, 2026, at 8:00 PM EST, inviting fans worldwide to experience the debut together.

Fans can join the premiere here:
https://youtu.be/rqz0FItfL1g?si=s1pxl8LWf0EbStKz

To capture the track, Free Henry! traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, recording at SEGNO Records, and collaborated with veteran recording engineer Joel McKenney, whose performance-driven instincts and musical intuition aligned naturally with the band's vision. McKenney's career spans generations and genres, with credits including Greta Van Fleet, Warren Haynes, Dolly Parton, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, and Stevie Nicks, bringing a rare depth of experience to the session.

Also present during the recording was Jack Gavin, longtime drummer for Charlie Daniels and a respected studio musician, lending his presence throughout the session.

The band returned to a recording philosophy that has defined their work from the beginning - tracking live in the same room, the same way they've written, rehearsed, and shaped songs throughout their career. This approach was central to earlier releases Summers on Neptune (2009) and Ethereal Gust (2011), and once again allowed the music to unfold organically.

At the center of that process was the band's proven core, with Pat Mannella and Derek Presti working together as a deeply connected rhythm section. Long trusted for their feel and cohesion, the pair operated as one solid unit, laying down a confident, fluid foundation that opened up space and dimension for the rest of the band.

From there, Bob Buckley and Alex Foote shaped the song's sonic character. Their interplay layers complementary guitar voices - textured, melodic, and intentional - with Alex's atmospheric, angular lines weaving around Bob's instinctive, unmistakable guitar style. Anchoring it all is Buckley's vocal performance, delivered with soul, power, and expressive warmth that carries the song's emotional core. All lead and backing vocals on the track were performed exclusively by Bob Buckley, giving the song a singular and unified voice.

Lyrically, "You Slay Me" leans into attraction and emotional pull, pairing vivid imagery with a sense of movement and immersion. One of the track's most striking lines captures that feeling perfectly: "Let me ride your sweet sinister wave."

Reflecting on the session, Buckley says:
"Going to Nashville and working with Joel was exactly what this band needed. He knows when to stay out of the way and when to push just enough to get something special. We weren't chasing perfection - we were chasing feel - and Joel understood that immediately. It felt like Free Henry! again the second we hit record."

Mastering was handled by Ryan Richards (Retro Records), a longtime collaborator of the band for over 20 years. Richards, based out of Los Angeles, CA, has worked extensively across film, television, and streaming platforms (HBO, Netflix, Apple Audio), adding clarity and depth while preserving the track's live energy.

Free Henry! extends heartfelt thanks to their fans, families, and the enduring support of the Western New York music community, whose encouragement has sustained the band throughout the years. While Free Henry! no longer performs live, the band plans to continue releasing studio recordings, carrying their sound forward through new material.

"You Slay Me" will be available on all major digital streaming platforms following the YouTube premiere.

SEGNO Records, LLC
205 Rising Sun Lane, Old Hickory, TN 37138

Free Henry! is a rock band built on energy, honesty, and the connection that happens when the music is loud and the room is real. What started in Buffalo, NY grew through years of shows, late nights, and songs written to be felt-not filtered-shaped by a commitment to real performances, shared space, and instinct over polish. Rooted in live energy and emotional weight, the band's sound blends textured guitars, a locked-in rhythm section, and soulful vocals, capturing the chemistry that comes from musicians fully committing to the moment, both onstage and in the studio.

This release was published on openPR.