I Wanna Be a Bad Man

About the Artist

The Layman Preachers return with one of their boldest and most ambitious releases to date. Their new single, ‘I Wanna Be a Bad Man’, embraces the swagger of vintage big-band rock while delivering a tongue-in-cheek story of fantasy, frustration and rebellion. At the heart of the song is an unlikely anti-hero—a man trapped in an ordinary life who dreams of escaping convention and becoming one of society's so-called "bad men." His aspirations, however, are dismantled by a partner who sees straight through the fantasy, creating a theatrical back-andforth that gives the song its unmistakable sense of humour. Driven by a thick, infectious bass groove, pounding drums and lo-fi vocals, the production captures the energy of a band performing in a cavernous warehouse rather than a polished recording studio. "We wanted it to sound big and wide” says vocalist and producer Corby Green. "That gritty raw blues bar sound. We wanted listeners to feel like they were standing in the room with the band." ‘I Wanna Be a Bad Man’ continues the band's tradition of creating songs that are both musically adventurous and lyrically character-driven, proving once again that they are just as comfortable entertaining an audience as they are challenging expectations. Australian performers Heather Armstrong and Corby Green began releasing music under The Layman Preachers banner in 2022. Joined by a rotating roster of guest musicians, the duo continues to play the long game as they build an ever-expanding catalogue. ‘I Wanna be a Bad Man’ is the group’s third release for 2026.