Carley Varley – Going Under (2021)
Some of the best artists have humble beginnings and this is no different for Carley Varley. Starting as a busker in Bournemouth, Varley began honing her sound and gaining a local following before actually being asked to perform at venues. Yep, busking kicked things off and in time the UK-based artist became a well-known name across South West England, won the Venus Award for Musical Talent in 2018, and is now working as a full-time musician.
Varley does perform cover tracks, as can be seen on her YouTube channel (check out the acoustic version of Avril Lavigne’s ‘Complicated’), but it is her original material that is thrilling. Influenced by the likes of Paramore and Avril Lavigne, Varley nods to the pop-rock sounds of the 90s and early 2000s, but with a unique flair of her own. Featured in RGM, Indie Music Center and several online radio stations/playlists, the songstress is turning heads on an international level. The latest addition to her well-received repertoire is ‘Going Under’.
The lead track off her upcoming EP Seasons, ‘Going Under’ is a powerful pop-rock package wrapped in pretty pink wrapping. Yet, while there is a buoyancy to the guitar-driven single, there is a poignancy in the song showcasing her depth. It might be this juxtaposition between a buoyant melody and melancholic lyricism that makes ‘Going Under’ intriguing. To be honest, though, the steady flow of insightful, catchy music makes me believe this is just Varley’s style.
Penned during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, ‘Going Under’ is a response to the anxious uncertainty and introspective confusion during the year. Varley notes “music to be very healing” and uses this melodic catharsis to express herself in a sophisticated and catchy way. Reminiscent of Paramore, particularly Varley’s Hayley Williams-esque vocals, ‘Going Under’ intertwines genuineness and sentimentality with raw honesty and vulnerability. A cheeky grin seems to flash across Varley’s face while she explores the fragility of a human soul.
Potentially one of her more addictive tracks, ‘Going Under’ has an anthemic summertime feel to it. It is a track you have in the background while you contemplate life but also something you dance to when you need to use the extra energy in an empowered way. Either way, I’m thrilled that this gem came my way and I’ll be singing it for hours to come.
For more from Carley Varley check out her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
