B-Side Guys

Had Sandy emerges from Brighton’s DIY scene with “In Between,” a debut single that transforms coastal melancholy into crystalline emo architecture. Released through Sugar-Free Records in September 2024, the track serves as both introduction and mission statement, suggesting that the British seaside might be the perfect breeding ground for emotionally charged rock.

Frontman Jude Allenby’s songwriting immediately establishes the band’s grasp of genre dynamics, opening with “Fake your honesty/And break apart” – a couplet that could have been lifted from a lost midwest basement show circa 2008. But Had Sandy isn’t merely recycling influences; they’re filtering them through their own distinctly British lens.

The production approach emphasizes the contrast between delicate and devastating that defines the modern emo revival. Twinkly guitar lines weave through heavier passages like fairy lights strung across a mosh pit, creating textural depth that rewards repeated listening. This technical achievement is particularly impressive for a debut release.

When Allenby delivers lines like “Project the words behind a screen,” the band demonstrates their understanding of how to build and release tension. The instrumentation pulls back just enough to let the words land before surging forward again, creating emotional peaks and valleys that feel earned rather than manufactured.

The rhythm section deserves particular praise for their role in maintaining the song’s careful balance. The bass work during the bridge section adds warmth to potentially stark passages, while the drums know exactly when to hold back and when to drive the narrative forward with increased intensity.

Lyrically, “In Between” explores themes of disconnection and denial without falling into genre clichés. The repeated motif of “Never far or in between” creates a sense of liminal space that matches the song’s musical dynamics. This attention to thematic consistency suggests a band that has thought carefully about their artistic direction.

The track’s structure plays with emo conventions while maintaining its own identity. Rather than following the quiet-loud-quiet template that defined earlier generations of the genre, Had Sandy creates something more nuanced, with layers that build and dissolve organically throughout the song’s runtime.

Where many debut singles try to encompass everything a band might become, “In Between” shows admirable restraint. It’s content to establish Had Sandy’s voice within their chosen genre while hinting at future possibilities. This focused approach serves them well, suggesting that their upcoming EP “If They All Miss You” might be worth the anticipation it’s generating in Brighton’s DIY circles.

By the time the final refrain of “Far in the past you’re leaving me/And forget” arrives, Had Sandy has established themselves as more than just another entry in the current emo revival. They’ve created something that honors their influences while carving out their own space in the genre’s continuing evolution.