Annie and the Jays – Too Shallow (2024)
Despite 2024 being their founding year, indie-rock fivesome Annie and the Jays are already building a strong following in and beyond their UK borders. Known for energetic, enthusiastic and engaging performances, the group already performed at legendary venues like King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut with sold-out gigs at the Voodoo Rooms. With bad-ass attitudes but sweet sincerity, Annie Liddle (vocalist), Roddy Sneddon (lead guitar), Ben Goodman (bass guitar), Ryan Rutherford (keyboard), and George Liddle (drums) are comforting, brash and tender all simultaneously. Come with us as we delve into their new single ‘Too Shallow’.
Following their well-received debut single ‘If You Wanted To You Would’, the sophomore ‘Too Shallow’ breathes life into nostalgic indie-rock of the 90s and 2000s, but with a modern-day ambience threading old-school grooves with contemporary edginess. Given Liddle’s bold vocals with an obscure lilt, I might call her Dolores O’Riordan’s younger sister; however, just as a similarity to The Cranberries exists overall, one can hear Annie and the Jays quickly developing a signature indie-rock meets indie-pop meets grunge style.
Produced with Brian Spence, ‘Too Shallow’ is Annie and the Jays’ concoction of bold bass, crashing drums, shimmering keys and rich vocals. Interestingly, as with the overall duality across ‘Too Shallow’, each instrument has prominence in its individuality, but with soothing harmony in the rhythmic symphony.
Melodically, Annie and the Jays capture all sides of the coin with ‘Too Shallow’; yet it is the lyricism that adds the weightiness of the collision/complementary profoundness. Exploring the complexity of ended relationships, the song was born of “…bitter feelings to vent…”. As such, there is angst and a teensy bit of rage in the poetic lyricism; however – there seems to be a however everywhere here – its personal narrative of bittersweet emotions evolves into an empowering post-breakup anthem.
Sincere, sentimental, tender and brimming with a tongue-in-cheek cynicism, ‘Too Shallow’ swirls with emotion but is as simplistic as the day is long. My one hope is that Annie and the Jays have not peaked too soon. Given their popularity as a live band, I think we’re in for an exciting journey with critical acclaim at each turn.
Find out more about Annie and the Jays on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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