An intimately poignant second single, ‘L Word‘ by Essex band She’s In Parties captures the internal conflict of letting someone know the true depths of your feelings for them. It begins softly, with a gentle beat and lilting vocals, complemented by a twinkling guitar riff that repeats like a delicate dance throughout the track.
The sense of internal conflict is beautifully demonstrated by the vulnerability in the delivery of the vocals, as well as the relatable, guarded lyrics, “Afraid to say the L word / Afraid to let my guard down”. The titular ‘L word’ carries a lot of weight, lent power by the way the ethereal and haunting vocals drift between the soft verses and the howling chorus.
While the conflict at the core of the song might not seem all that catastrophic to describe, the delivery of the vocals draws out the gut-wrenching reality of such an intense and personal anxiety in a way that aches with vulnerability. You can’t help but feel the torture of the anxiety, regardless of whether or not it’s a flavour of insecurity you’re especially familiar with.
The way the vocals and instruments ramp up into a howl in the choruses evoke the way the anxiety roils and churns, corrupting into a feeling that could be beautiful. ‘L Word’ takes on a bittersweet flavour as the feeling of love for someone, which should be a joy to share, is tainted by the fear and uncertainty behind the impending confession. The song thrusts all that emotion into an unbearable wave of agony culminating in crashing drums, screaming guitars and roaring vocals. The repeated “I didn’t mean to say that” is heartbreaking. It validates the fear, robbing the potential connection of its joy and injected regret instead, the repetition feeling much like the endless cycles of anxiety-induced heart palpitations and gasps for breath. Then, as it winds down to a soft, solemn close, that contrite final line leaves the track’s haunting vulnerability to linger with you long after the music fades away.
End Scene, the debut EP from She’s In Parties, is set for release on 6th October via Submarine Cat records. And you can catch them live supporting Bleach Lab, and on some select headline dates, including at Third Man Records, throughout November – more info here.
Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt
Photo Credit: Polocho
