SINGLE REVIEW: 'Lovers//Say Something' | ALLEYWAYS

Leeds-based indie-pop outfit ALLEYWAYS released their debut EP, Does It Matter?, back in May, with the help of Chalkpit Records. The band highlight the parody of clickbait, likes, and viral culture, putting an alternative twist on modern pop culture. We live in a digital society where people worry about likes and comments, and impressions their social media pages have on other people, but ALLEYWAYS tell us not to take it too seriously - social media can be damaging, admittedly, but it's also an invaluable asset that, when used positively, can do incredible things for artists and audiences. Their punchy tracks, brought to life by frontman Dougie Turner's electric presence, are a concoction of noise and buzz, helped to make so fab by George Barwick, Stu White and Ben Clark.

After a long 7 months without music, ALLEYWAYS are making their return on Thursday with an ALLEYWAYS x Pink Feet collaboration, to release Lovers//Say Something. Despite this being the day of the general election - i.e. one of the most crucial days of UK history - the band have hit the jackpot with these two singles and I think they're ALLEYWAYS' best tracks yet.

Lovers is, funnily enough, about lovers. Turner narrates the feeling you get when you have a crush but are reluctant to do anything about it, which is something I think all of us can understand. He does this in classic ALLEYWAYS fashion; upbeat instrumentals and funky pop-song lyrics. "Do you ever feel like you fall in love, then wake up and remember it's true" is a personal favourite lyric, as it's representative of the 'what ifs' everyone thinks about in a relationship. By the end of the tracks the narrator has developed the guts to get into said relationship and it ends in happiness, as does every stereotypical love story. Cute. But this isn't a stereotypical track, it's creative and I applaud ALLEYWAYS for how innovative and creative they are when it comes to making music. 

Say Something is also a track listeners can resonate with. Do you ever get the niggling feeling in your brain that you're not good enough for anybody? Yeah. It's inevitable, everybody feels it sometimes. Bit it's okay to feel like that; here Turner uses the chorus to project that voice of self doubt we have, asking if we're good enough. But the verses and pre-chorus are the voice of reason. It's a song that reminds us we're not alone and it's okay to need a little reassurance from people, whether that be a friend or significant other. ALLEYWAYS have taken a relatable topic and turned it into a very impressive, vivacious pop song.

After chilling in Yorkshire and gigging in the little venues round the county, ALLEYWAYS are making their Nottingham debut in the new year. A free gig - yes, free - the boys are going to take their lovable sound to a different part of the UK, and make everyone over there happy with their tunes. I beg, if you live in the area, you get down there.