Words: Keira Knox
The excellent debut EP ‘Don’t Do Well Alone’ by rising London singer Siobhán Winifred has been released. Siobhán has been making waves with her pop-tinged indie-rock, which has led to tours around the UK and Ireland this year alongside artists like Nieve Ella, Rachel Chinouriri, and The Academic. She additionally opened for Stevie Nicks at BST Hyde Park. Siobhán was selected as a Spotify RADAR UK & IE: First Listen artist in July of this year, joining the ranks of Olivia Dean, CMAT, The Last Dinner Party, and others.
Her outstanding track ‘Lungs’ serves as the EP’s opener. Siobhán’s song writing is characterised by an unwavering tenderness and relatable depth that defies her age; think Sam Fender meets Phoebe Bridgers. Through her honesty, Siobhán is able to communicate with her audience on a personal level and accurately portray her feelings. ‘Lungs’ exudes a subdued intensity as Siobhán endeavours to articulate her feelings of anxiousness and breathlessness. The melody’s exquisitely crafted curl appears to intensify the lyric’s powerful emotion.
‘Stay For Good’ is Siobhán’s latest single to be released from the EP. The accompanying visualiser is a “thank you” to her extremely loyal following. Her vulnerable song writing strikes a chord amongst her fanbase, much like Sam Fender in that respect, her lyrics evoke the impression of a candid journal entry about anxiety. Her tracks are intensely personal while retaining a sense of relatability. The beautiful instrumentals on the track lend her lyrics a greater impact. The background is filled with sliding guitar riffs and pounding drum beats, which heighten the intensity of the emotion expressed.
For her debut EP, Winifred has reworked her hugely popular tune ‘Killers’, which features the amazing Dutch singer-songwriter Stevie Bill. Ample melodies form the foundation of ‘Killers,’ which amplifies the stunning vocals featured. Siobhán demonstrates her natural talent to turn difficult human circumstances into moving musical storylines with the ethereal track ‘Killers,’ which tackles negotiating difficult relationships with selfish people. The combination of both Bill and Winifred’s vocals is a stroke of genius, adding more intensity to the already emotional lyrics, it’s a sad girl supergroup.
‘Don’t Do Well Alone’ is the the EP’s title track, an extremely poignant song that will be relatable amongst most listeners. The lyrics tackle the feelings that come with loneliness, how overthinking seeps back in and how one can become very self critical. The intensely vulnerable lyrics serve to show how hard dealing with anxiety can be. Winifred’s lyrics express the struggles that come with suffering from anxiety, a topic that not many are brave enough to tackle within their lyrics, but Siobhán executes it perfectly.
The Phoebe Bridgers influence is clear on the EP’s closing track ‘Keep Sweet’. With this song, she could very well become a sad girl music world favourite. The emotional intensity that permeates her narration further amplifies her phenomenal vocals. This haunting acoustic melody portrays the intense emotional struggle that leads to numbness in a relationship. Siobhán Winifred creates music that is impossible to listen to just once. Her compositions are of the kind that compel you to stop listening to them midway and begin again, simply because they are that outstanding.
‘Don’t Do Well Alone’ demonstrates Siobhán Winifred’s boundless potential. She’s a generational star waiting to be discovered, poised to become the next IT girl of the indie world. This EP is Winifred at her best; her heartfelt song writing deserves unwavering praise. Personally, I’m eager to see what she comes up with next.
Siobhán Winifred will embark on her debut headline tour this October. London and Glasgow dates sold out almost instantly, with Bristol and Birmingham dates set to follow suit, grab your tickets while they are still available!
LIVE DATES:
5th Oct – Neighbourhood Festival – Manchester
6th Oct – The Poetry Club – Glasgow (sold out)
8th Oct – Hare & Hounds 2 – Birmingham
9th Oct – Exchange – Bristol
15th Oct – The Lower Third – London (sold out)
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