Frequently Asked Questions.
The honest answers to the questions people actually ask - Who Joseph Laurence is, what the records are inspired by, how the music gets made, and how to listen or licence it. If a question is not covered here, the Connect page is the place to ask.
The Music & The Records
Quick, honest answers on the music out now - The single The Runaway Mine Train, the Arcadian Sky Trilogy and Atlas Stadium, the first release of the Modern Age - The two albums on the way, The Inner Circle (31 August 2026) and Alton After Dark (30 September 2026), with previews on SoundCloud now, and exactly what each one is, and is not, inspired by.
Who Is Joseph Laurence?
Joseph Laurence is a UK songwriter and composer making warm, cinematic music. He writes melodies at the piano and builds them into fully arranged worlds - Songs you can step inside. His single The Runaway Mine Train is out now, alongside the rest of his Modern Age - The Arcadian Sky Trilogy, Béres by the Sea, Surfing With Piano Joe and the neon spectacle of Atlas Stadium: Neon City Nights - with two albums on the way: The Inner Circle and Alton After Dark.
Is The Runaway Mine Train the Alton Towers Ride Soundtrack?
No. The Runaway Mine Train is an original song by Joseph Laurence, inspired by the Alton Towers ride of the same name - It is not the ride's soundtrack and not an official Alton Towers or Merlin Entertainments release. It is Joseph's own euphoric, golden-hour cinematic pop, written as a love letter to a lifelong favourite ride and the park around it. To his delight, Alton Towers themselves have had it playing in the office.
Where Can I Listen to The Runaway Mine Train?
The Runaway Mine Train is out now and streaming everywhere - Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and YouTube Music. You can play it from the single's page on this site, or find every link in one place on the Connect page. New releases always land on the streaming platforms first.
What Is Atlas Stadium: Neon City Nights?
Atlas Stadium: Neon City Nights is an EP that is out now - The first release of Joseph Laurence's Modern Age, the current era of his music. It is a virtual neon stadium show all its own: a floating city, a molten world held high and a roaring crowd, arena-sized and electric. Its neon world is kept to itself, standing alongside his other records rather than blending into them. You can hear it on SoundCloud, or from its own page on this site.
Is Alton After Dark an Official Alton Towers Release?
No. Alton After Dark is an independent album by Joseph Laurence, inspired by Alton Towers after dark - It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, commissioned by, or an official release of Alton Towers or Merlin Entertainments. It is one fan's love letter: a cinematic, warm, a little gothic and nocturnal record about the park after closing in the imagination - Fireworks over the Wicker Man, lantern-lit Victorian gardens and the Runaway Mine Train rattling off into the dark.
When Is Alton After Dark Out, and How Do I Hear It First?
Alton After Dark is out on 30 September 2026. You do not have to wait, though - Early, unmastered previews of every track are on SoundCloud now, with more going public as release day nears. Follow Joseph Laurence on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud or YouTube Music - All linked from the Connect page - to hear the finished album the moment it lands.
What Are The Inner Circle and Alton After Dark?
The Inner Circle is a warm, anthemic album about family and the small, fierce collection of friends who make up Joseph's world - The most personal thing he has written, out 31 August 2026. Alton After Dark is a cinematic, nocturnal love letter to Alton Towers after dark, out 30 September 2026. Early, unmastered previews of every track from both albums are on SoundCloud now, with more going public as each release nears.
How the Music Is Made
Joseph writes by ear at the piano - Melody, chords and lyrics first - then uses studio technology as a tool to realise the arrangement he already hears in his head. Here is how that works in practice.
How Does Joseph Laurence Make His Music?
It almost always starts with a melody that arrives on its own. Joseph cannot read music, but he plays by ear - He takes the tune to the piano, finds the chord progression by ear, writes the lyrics, then arranges the whole thing: the style, instruments, tempo, dynamics and hooks. The songwriting is entirely his. The Process page tells the full story, step by step.
Does Joseph Laurence Use AI to Make Music?
Yes, as a studio tool - And he is open about it. The melodies, chords and lyrics are written by Joseph at the piano, and the arrangement is his vision down to the detail. He then uses AI like a remarkably quick session band and engineer to render the sound he already hears in his head, directing every decision and shaping take after take. Think of him as the conductor and the writer; the orchestra just happens to be brand new.
Is It Really Joseph Laurence Singing and Writing the Songs?
The songwriting is his: the melodies and chord progressions written at the piano, the lyrics, and the full arrangement of every track. Technology helps him realise that vision in the studio, but the creative calls - What the song is, how it feels, where the catch lives - are all Joseph's. Composer first, technology second.
Listening & Licensing
Where to hear the music, how to follow new releases, and how to get in touch about using a song in a film, game, trailer or campaign.
Can I Licence Joseph Laurence's Music for My Film, Game or Project?
Yes. Joseph's warm, cinematic, piano-led music is available to licence direct from the artist for film, documentary, trailers, games, advertising and theme-park or attraction briefs - And he can write to brief too. He writes and owns the work, which keeps clearance simple. The best first step is to get in touch through the Connect page with a line about your project, timeline and where the music would be used.
Is Joseph Laurence UK-Based, and What Genre Is the Music?
Yes, Joseph is a UK-based songwriter and composer. The music is best described as warm, cinematic and emotional - Big melodies, piano-led arrangements and the scale of a film score, sitting between cinematic pop and modern soundtrack. Each record has its own world and weather, from the euphoric theme-park rush of The Runaway Mine Train to the nocturnal, gothic glow of Alton After Dark.
How Can I Follow Joseph Laurence or Get in Touch?
You can follow Joseph on Instagram and TikTok, and listen and follow on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and YouTube Music - Every link lives on the Connect page. For collaborations, sync and licensing, bookings, press, or simply to say the music meant something to you, there is a direct email address on Connect too.
Still Have a Question?
Read the story behind the single, see how the records get made on the Process page, or read about using the music for your project on the Licensing page.