Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Jane Allison – Frayed (2023)

Described as “alluring…” (Plastic Magazine), “remarkable… [and] incredibly powerful…” (Less Than 1000 Followers), and “…the next folk-soul sensation” (A&R Factory), Jane Allison is winning hearts across the globe. Far more than a singer-songwriter, Allison makes her mark on the acting scene as well. Performing as Jane Stanness, Allison is most well known for her comedic character roles with the most recent being in the comedy TV series Intelligence. She has also had success as a TV writer for BAFTA award-winning shows Nighty Night and Sally4Ever. A force of nature on the entertainment scene, Jane Allison has her finger in many pies, but we’re here to take a gander at her heartfelt melodies.

The first release in approximately five years, singer-songwriter Jane Allison returns with her haunting single ‘Frayed’. Taken off her 2018 full-length album Like Magdalene, ‘Frayed’ is a vulnerable melody filled with dark fog in a pool of despair – or that is what it sounds like. A collaborative project with Alonza Bevan, the acoustic-inspired combination of guitars and piano builds the base of a breath-taking melody; however, just as the instrumentation captures your soul, Allison’s vocals send the soul soaring.

Tapping into her inner Stevie Nicks, ‘Frayed’ has a rawness in its sound. The thing is, it is not the rawness that brings vulnerability to the fore. With the intensity of Kate Bush, although registering on the alto side of the vocal spectrum, ‘Frayed’ has an eclectic intimacy woven into the song. Interestingly, while the single has doom-and-gloom slithering through the dark arrangement, it completely contrasts the theme of the track. Instead of a mire of despair, ‘Frayed’ is a song of empowerment, hopefulness and about living life on your own terms.

“A song dealing in the quiet rebellion against vampires and villains who come in the guise of leaders, lovers or friends. A tale of triumph over duplicity and deception, betrayal and treason – whether of the heart, on the battlefield or everyday life behind closed doors…” – Jane Allison on ‘Frayed’


For more from Jane Allison, check out her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator