Corporations love to commodify sadness. Birmingham duo Phwoar responds with a defiant fist in the air, releasing “Waiting for the Sun” just in time for “Blue Monday” – that cynically calculated “most depressing day of the year” designed to sell you solutions to sorrows you didn’t know you had.
The track’s muscular minimalism serves its message perfectly. Helena’s thunderous drums and Paul’s slashing guitar create a storm-weather atmosphere, while their shared vocals transform weather metaphors into emotional truth. The production, aided by Adrian Hall (known for work with Nova Twins and Depeche Mode), maintains the raw energy of their two-piece setup while adding subtle depth to their sonic landscape.
The lyrics build their narrative through tangible images – assorted hats, faux leather, cracked ice – before diving into deeper waters of resilience. When they sing “Sometimes I’m just treading water / Grip the bare branch hold on tight,” the metaphor gains power through its simplicity, perfectly capturing the exhausting work of staying afloat.
What’s particularly striking is how the track’s structure mirrors its message of persistence. The repeated mantra of “I’m waiting for the sun” could sound defeated in other hands, but Phwoar delivers it with increasing intensity, transforming patience into active resistance. This builds to a crescendo of wordless “Ah wooo” vocals that feel like primal screams of determination.
As the first single from their upcoming EP ‘Flowers Through the Concrete’, “Waiting for the Sun” suggests Phwoar has found strength in stripping away pretense. Their DIY sensibilities shine through in both message and execution – sometimes the most powerful response to manufactured misery is simply refusing to buy what they’re selling.
B-Side Guys 
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