Tell Me, the new song from Brighton duo PELA, bristles with an infectious organic warmth. Producer and instrumentalist Olly Shelton’s fuzzy synths and snappy hip-hop inspired drums come together with singer/songwriter Hannah Coombes’ crisp vocals to create something truly seamless. The combination feels timeless yet modern, like Haim partnering up with Dan Snaith.
The video of Tell Me features a one-take live performance, the band joined by Dom Walker on saxophone, in St Mary’s Church near Brighton. I love the clean, classy feel of both the performance and the recording.
Tell Me is our first exposure to PELA’s soon-to-be-announced EP. The song itself bubbles with a sense of determined optimism, and the band talk about their inspiration of having the purpose of mind to make better decisions:
“Tell Me is about learning to interrupt the spirals we find ourselves in and how to navigate unhelpful thoughts. It was the first track we wrote after moving to Brighton and embodies the sense of a fresh start.”
It’s an important notion that I have found myself reflecting on and requiring in the past, and I love the quiet confidence demonstrated on Tell Me.