Shai Brides new track ‘Honeydew’ is an exploration into alt pop

Already championed by BBC 6 Music and BBC Introducing, Birmingham’s Shai Brides are back with their new single ‘Honeydew’. Taking cues from Metronomy and the Voidz, the track is an exploration into alt pop.

Shai Brides establish a palette of woozy synths, new wave and field recordings from inside a game boy. Peppered with a Cure-esque drone, there’s surprising ‘in between days’ flourishes. It’s confusing, unexpected but melts perfectly with the electro pop foundations the track was built upon. The noodling that closes out the track is subtle and alone, delicately retracing the emotional arc of the song. Acting as a call back to earlier, just before the chorus, the riff is a moment to pace, allowing time to breathe. It was always there in the background, echoed by the bass, teasing at a more traditional indie rock melody. The moody undercurrent constantly tugs at the sleeve of the brighter, synth-heavy opening. A constant reminder of the melancholy that looms in the lyrics.

Bursting through your headphones with their sparkling hooks and sing-along riffs, but it’s the intense vulnerability that will linger, trapped in your head. An XX style delivery is echoed throughout, devastating but cool. An emotional nonchalance that hides crippling insecurity, no matter how much retro glitter is thrown at it, ‘Honeydew’ is still drenched in doubts and solitude. Dent clings to every syllable, desperately trying to hold up his end of a conversation, it’s a pining ballad disguised as a C86 anthem.

Reminiscent of early MGMT, the song moves and grows around our individual perspectives. What are we actually looking for? On some listens, we are purposely naïve to the lurking pessimism, simply revelling in the festival-ready beats. Other times we see straight past the “veneer of vintage pop pleasantness” and actively seek out the depth.

Shai Brides have crafted a track that shape shifts with our constant need for nostalgia. During this time we all crave comfort, ‘Honeydew’ is the song that can satisfy. It caters to our ever-fluctuating mood, sound-tracking night out highs and comforting our lockdown lows.

Have a listen to ‘Honeydew’ below and leave an ICM Star Rating out of 10. Remember to check out their last release, the synth-punk ‘Tokyo Drift’, out on all major platforms.