twobox. – She Says (2021)

Combining elements of synth-pop, post-punk, indie-rock and alt-pop, UK-based artist twobox. is breaking boundaries with his unique, genre-bending sound. The solo project of producer Nicholas Preston, twobox. formed in 2019 and is one of the more authentic musicians in a stagnating indie scene. We had a chance to review his debut EP Kiss Politics in 2020 (read the review here), and now we have the honour of reviewing the latest single ‘She Says’.

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Fusing old-school post-punk with contemporary indie-rock, ‘She Says’ has a Joy Division meets The Cure meets The Stone Roses style. One might consider the melody to have a hazy ambience, but it is not necessarily the case. The melody does have a certain wistfulness, however, the dynamic instrumentation places one more in a swirl of sound than a full-on haziness. Not only that, but twobox.’s strong baritone acts as an anchor in the kaleidoscopic whirlpool.

An upbeat song, ‘She Says’ appears to be uplifting and optimistic but there is more lying beneath the surface. Exposing the fragility of the human soul, ‘She Says’ is a dark representation of a difficult breakup. Filled with vulnerability and deep-set sentimentality, twobox. uses intimate lyricism to portray a painful experience.

Already a gut-wrenching experience, twobox.’s powerful baritone enhances the intensity of the content. Reminiscent of Ian Curtis (a man known for darker songs), twobox. elegantly executes the compelling lyricism with a tear-jerking tone. Yet, while ‘She Says’ has a delicate sensitivity, it also has a lingering haunting pricking your heart and sending shivers down your spine. I love it!

For more from twobox. check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.