Original image: Jessie Rose
We’re back with the weekly round-up of single reviews and, as usual, we’re going to dive right in with this week’s Single Of The Week.
This week we’ve gone with the new single from Overpass, the up-and-coming quartet hailing from the Midlands. Their new single, ‘Changes’ provides the backdrop for their forthcoming headline tour and, having perfected their live set on the scene with The Snuts, this tune is sure to light a few fuses. ‘Changes’ is the third single to be dropped by the band this year and marks a slight departure from its proceeding singles: it favours a more energy-infused approach to songwriting and exhibits the band's ability to produce anthemic and infectious tunes. The track was doubtless made to be performed live and you’ve got a chance to see the band on stage later this year as they continue to build their profile. Take it from us, it’s not one worth missing.
Next on the list is ‘Keep You Around’: the new and heart-wrenching pop ballad from Kerry Feeney. The singer has been using her previous singles; ‘Baby Girl You Know It’; ‘Dangerous’; and ‘Audacious’, to search for her distinctive sound and she seems to have honed in on just that. ‘Keep You Around’ bares the influence of rock and features a rocky guitar edge and a vocal performance entrenched in the singer’s passion. The tune dropped at the end of last week and the singer herself has said that is the most excited she’s been for a single release. If you’re a fan of Pink of Kelly Clarkson, you’ll want to wrap your ears around this.
Moving on and we’re sticking with the pop-inspired tunes. The Liverpool-based Amber Jay has followed up her debut EP (‘Never Too Far From a Dark Thought’) with her new track, ‘Equal’. Many of you may know her from the success of the tracks proceeding EP and will be glad to know that she picks up where she left off. Her local BBC Introducing described this track as ‘full of atmosphere’ and I’m inclined to agree. The track features wobbly, bass-drenched synths and a simplistic yet infectious percussive arrangement while her soft vocals shine a light on the twisted expectations of modern society. Bedroom pop for the masses. Give it a listen.
If you are into pop-influenced tracks, I think you’ll also love ‘Real World’, the latest offering from Wynona. The duo, made up of partners Natalie & Rich, spent time in Osaka, Japan before returning to the UK and perfecting their indie-pop sound. The track exhibits all the qualities of a true rock ballad: Natalie’s soft vocals are foregrounded against a backdrop of clean guitars and euphoric choruses. The track was dropped late last month and has fired the starting pistol for their group’s planned run of singles over the next few months and, if this one is anything to go by, it’ll be well worth keeping your eyes out for what comes next.
This next one is something quite special. It’s the latest drop from the Southend-based 5-piece, San Quentin. The band recently signed to Golden Robot Records and this, ‘Step Off’, is their first release on the label. The track, which features lyrics that focus on the degrading status of youth culture, features a restless and energised sound that evokes the likes of The Reytons and Inhaler. The track comes with the kind of enthusiasm that demands a live audience and this review comes with the recommendation that you grab your chance to see it.
This next one is an artist you’re likely to have heard of already, seen as he’s been played on BBC 6 Music and Radio X as well as making Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist. The track is called ‘Chip Off The Old Block’ and is the final single to be dropped ahead of Tom Bright’s second album, Legacy. The tune was co-written by Tom and his producer, Ed Harcourt, who shares a similar background to the singer-songwriter. With lyrics that are as insightful as they are witty, the song focuses on the strains that family relationships can sometimes face and exemplifies Tom’s natural songwriting ability. This track, as well as its parent album, is well worth adding to your to-listen-to list.
Next up is ’24 Years Down’, the new single from singer-songwriter Allison Leah. It follows up on her previous single, ‘What I’m Missing’ which was released earlier this year and exhibited a similar sound to the one here. Her angelic, Phoebe Bridgers-Esque vocal provides the track with a comforting and subtle focal point and it goes a long way in complementing the nostalgic and reminiscent subject matter. Though this is only the second track we’ve seen Allison drop in 2021, she’s shown her fans she’s worth waiting for.
Back onto bands now and for the final one this week we’ve got an Our Sound favourite. Some of you will have read about GracieSouz elsewhere on the website and we couldn’t let this one pass us by. The singer has been busy with her band, KIN, and dropped a brand new single with them last week. The track, called 'The Runaways', marks somewhat of a comeback for the band, who’ve been making waves for the last year or so. The tune features a dreamy melodic core and a pop-inspired rhythm section that comes together to craft a well-rounded indie-pop sound.
All the above releases can be listened to on our Spotify Playlist here.
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