Silent Income – Sweet Pea (2025)
Take two musicians, each sitting on original material they have yet to release, put them together, weave a musical wand and, bang, you have Silent Income. The collaborative project of Australia-based singer-songwriter Marchella Wright and guitarist and composer San Billinghurst Walsh, Silent Income has been self-defined as a “space disco duo”; however, the pair are far more than anything definable. Sauntering synth-pop, psychedelic rock, indie-rock, alternative pop and indie-pop, Wright and Billinghurst Walsh are not to be pigeon-holed. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Sweet Pea’.
The first release since their well-received self-titled album in 2022, ‘Sweet Pea’ has been a “labour of love for the past few years.” Drawing together the innovativeness and eclecticism of Wright and Billinghurst Walsh, it embodies creativity and charm bound by elegant sophistication; but, just as there is sophistication in ‘Sweet Pea’, a raw naivety clings to the production like a sprinkling of innocence in a matured sonic bubble.
Recorded in various locations, including Billinghurst Walsh’s home studio and Union St Studios with Roger Bergodaz, ‘Sweet Pea’ drags one back a few decades with synth-driven pop tones, a hint of indie-folk, a strong lull of 80s pop, and an undeniable lingering of indie-rock lurking in the background. Interestingly, as much as there is a nostalgic whisper to ‘Sweet Pea’, the track presents a contemporary indie-pop edge making it refreshingly new and endearingly familiar.
On the surface, ‘Sweet Pea’ appears a mellifluous flow of pop; however, the sonic rollercoaster holds onto the blissful highs before delving into darker, distorted lows. Wright’s rich vocals draw you close with its warmth, so you seem to be sharing the moment with an old friend and not a new stranger. A conversation between pals as you sit back, kick up your feet, and enjoy the sun’s radiant warmth. The ending with Billinghurst Walsh’s acoustic guitar rounds things up in a silvery heartfelt sonic ribbon.
This is my introduction to Silent Income, and I could not ask for anything more delightful. Soothing and smooth, the melody is a cheeky smile making you grin from the outset. I cannot wait for more indie-pop sweetness (or whatever genre they choose to explore) from the insatiable Silent Income.
Find out more about Silent Income on their Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more indie-pop music on The Other Side Reviews Indie Pop playlist:
