A sense of inevitability pervades the steady ascent of Liverpool four-piece, Keyside, as their chiming, kitchen sink indie rock lands on more and bigger stages, catalyzed by an expanding songbook including their new, aspirational ‘pep talk’ single, “If You Don’t Try.”
Completing their incisively written, emotive and relatable Michael (What’s Your Call?) EP release in February, Keyside’s idiosyncratic brand of hard-talk lyricism effortlessly blended with intricate and upbeat, guitar-led pop continues to conjure magic around the band.
Unflinching in the face of hard truths, Keyside’s previous singles have matched the desolation of drug-abuse with glacial riffs and sunshine choruses alongside lyrics rooted in real domestic tension.
Finding new avenues of creativity in the midst of the persistent ‘noise’ of memory and enduring social misadventure on the streets around him, the release of “If You Don’t Try” brings unbound optimism to Parker and Keyside’s world.
Reflecting on the track, Parker adds: “If You Don’t Try” is about embracing uncertainty, taking chances and living life. It blends historical metaphor, personal emotion and modern imagery to say: “F**k it! Let’s give it a go, see what happens if we try.”
In a band line-up completed by Ben Cassidy (lead guitar), Max Gibson (bass, backing vocals) and Oisin McAvoy (drums), the more obvious comparisons to socially-minded songmakers of the past, including The Smiths and The La’s are cross-pollinated with the energy of contemporary influences including Fontaines D.C. and Blossoms.
