In recent years, a new wave of indie rock has emerged, fronted by female singers, and I couldn’t be happier. So, if you are fans of Japanese Breakfast, Slow Pulp, Jay Som, and Beach Bunny, this is another artist that can be added to your rotation. The press even compared the artist to The Cranberries, and I enjoyed this comparison, as it brought back many nostalgic memories.
Lys Allen has been exploring atmospheric dream pop more, which resonates with me on a deeper level. She has been part of Champaign-Urbana’s DIY scene for some time and even had another music project called Taurus Hate Club. The new project should be more vulnerable and definitely more atmospheric.
The press release shared a short description of the album that I enjoyed:
“With the release of Boyish, Lys Allen steps fully into their voice as an indie rock artist unafraid to blur beauty with rawness. Across the record, delicate vocals and airy guitars collide with sharp emotional edges, tracing stories of identity, longing, and the hard work of becoming yourself. It’s an album that holds space for contradiction, quiet introspection and anthemic catharsis, haze and clarity, tenderness and rage.”
The new album should be a step up for the artists, and they have put a lot of effort into crafting this beautiful album. When following artists on social media or streaming, why don’t they have more listeners? The dreamy atmosphere, with its captivating underlying guitars and vocals, is quite distinctive and could be compared to the artists I mentioned at the beginning.
The album features a colourful sound palette, and there are tracks that are a little more energetic, alongside more introspective and dreamy ones. They complement each other nicely, and the album flows smoothly from start to finish. I see a lot of potential in the sound, and there will be many indie listeners who will connect with the intimacy of Lys’s vocals, which will invite you in.
A lot of indie rock with a similar sound has been produced lately, but I found much of it to be very flat and monotonous. However, Lys can take something familiar and make it more unique. The craftsmanship is quite evident in the tracks, showing that Lys is prepared to make music that can be heard by a broad audience.
Even if this type of dreamy indie rock isn’t your cup of tea, but I guarantee you will find at least one track that you will thoroughly enjoy in this one. I recommend starting with standoff tracks like “Boyish”, “Angel”, or “Columbia,” which fully showcase the talent.
Either way, the entire album was a very pleasurable listening experience. You may be looking for some relaxing background music to enjoy in the evening or an escape from the world around you. The album will take you on a journey accompanied by the beautiful voice of Lys, and you will end up craving for more.
Put on headphones, let the music sink in, and be swayed by guitars, dreamy landscapes, and mesmerising vocals. I have been, and I bet you will be.
Written by Filip Zemcik
