I wrote about the beautiful music of Leeds-based duo Sunflower Thieves earlier this year, after I put them through at my stage of judging Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition in 2020. Back again with a new single, and now a video, Sirens only reinforces in my mind how much promise and talent the pair, Amy and Lily, have.
Once again leveraging their trademark dream-folk sound, Sunflower Thieves have gently embellished their sound with the kind of subtle touches that add to the song without distracting from its emotional core. Amy and Lily’s vocal harmonisation continues to be the central draw, but gently modulated sounds combine with acoustic guitar, light percussive sounds and keys to add to the song’s melody.
Whilst it could be mistaken for a love song, the duo highlight that it’s really about friendship, perhaps irrespective of whether that exists within a purely platonic relationship or not:
“Sirens’ is a song about friendship, inspired by particular people. When things feel overwhelming, tuning into a relationship or friendship with someone who needs you can keep you grounded, and keep you both moving forwards.”
I’m lucky enough to have some of those people in my life, and I recognise and am grateful for the grounding security of those connections with people that endure. They can act as a form of gravity, stopping me from losing my bearings and my place when I require it most. I’ve missed Thanksgiving by a day, and I’m not American, but here it is anyway… Enjoy, and thank you.