NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Lauran Hibberd ‘mary’
4 December 2023
Starting as a drummer in the post punk band DeepTan, it’s fair to say Luce Rushtons’s latest EP ‘How it Works’ is a step in a new direction for the London native, evolving from a minimalistic guitarist to a blossoming and dynamic vocalist in her personal work.
The debut single sharing the same name bears striking parallels to the soft and twinkling soundscape of Adrianne Lenker with an eclectic British whimsy about it.
Fading into the track, it is apparent that the rich and clean tone of the guitar instantly glides into a state of tranquillity in the opening. Rushton’s expressive yet velvet vocals slip over the top revealing the etchings of an unrequited love, still present in her mind and traces of their scent still hanging around, building up into a sense of disappointment around the slower measure of the acoustic, pacing around the starkness of the first sighting. Easing into an interesting instrumental hook on the xylophone, reminiscent of the indie sleaze era, hinting at youth, naivety and dragging through life through bright yet malaise percussion.
‘I was the place, now I’m alone’.
Rushton’s writing creates a room of emotions to step into, whether it be sentimentality, wry bitterness or joyous repentance over the experience, we have all visited it at some point in our lives. Showing that there can be a silver lining to living through melancholy.
Continuing to the chorus, Luce elevates the mood into anger, upping the use of electronic instruments over acoustic. The Percussive areas of the tune grow and twist around the lyrics ‘I must be the home’ coming to her conclusions around the troubling time. Pushing through the sadness with anger managed by a wall of brash layered guitars and a bitter taste in her mouth. Listening to the track makes me almost proud as if I was taking back the narrative into my own hands and shaping the future for the better. In turn, unifying many listeners through emotional turmoil and providing a sanctuary to reflect.
The track soon fades into a beautiful mix of all the instruments combined in a rather expressive yet refined explosion of indie bedroom pop with a hint of alternative rock, giving it one final push before simmering into cluttered notes on the piano.
Although only 3 minutes long, this new single proves Rushton’s songwriting talents are manifesting and reaching into every emotion felt along the tumultuous journey of yearning and its consequences. This is an artist that should be watched very closely this coming year, as she continues to raise the bar for the southeast indie scene.
As for the up-and-coming material, time will only tell. But to keep yourself occupied in the meantime, Luce Rushton’s live performance of ‘Night Drive Through’ is available on Youtube and The New Age Magazine site now.
