Out today, ‘Trying’ is the instantly impressive debut from Manchester’s “nu-riot grrrl” supergroup Brain Leak.
Singer-songwriter Tara-Gabriella Engelhardt fronts the band with open-hearted personal diary entry lyrics, over highly pleasing alt rock riffs provided by Peaness guitarist Jess Branney, and former Working Mens Club guitarist Giulia Bonometti – with drums on a job-share between Sidonie Hand-Halford (Orielles) and Ellie-Rose Elliot (Blanketman). What a dream team!
Engelhardt says:
“’Trying’ is a song about attachment and the extreme emotions that can come along with it. I feel things very deeply and the song instantly expresses that I don’t just feel a standard emotion, I tend to feel the amplified version of it.
“I remember writing the song almost in one go after a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, where I’d talked about the feeling of being on a seesaw. I didn’t know how to just stay in the middle, didn’t have a clue what balance felt like, without a crutch. Challenging emotional situations without any kind of crutch was very unnerving and felt completely alien.”
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