'Put Me Under' by In Earnest - Single Review

Tom Atherton
Apr 10, 2020
3 min read

Hi guys and welcome back to another blog; today's blog I will be reviewing the up and coming band 'In Earnest' and their debut single which is due for release on the 17th of this month 'Put Me Under'. I've been blown away by the number of bands who have come to me seeking reviews, it truly does make this blogging thing so much more exciting and worth it. As always I'll let the band tell you guys what they are all about, as I like you guys to hear it from the band themselves.

‘Put Me Under’ is an honest, personal account of depression and loneliness, aiming to encourage conversation around mental health. In Earnest is an alt/indie trio from Southend-on-Sea, UK, fuelled by the songwriting of front-couple Sarah and Thomas. Their debut single ‘Put Me Under’ is written from Sarah’s perspective. “I suffer from chronic anxiety and depression to the point where I can’t hold down jobs or be left alone for too long. In my loneliness, I am awash with negative thoughts. The song is about feeling overcome by an invisible illness, but knowing it’s a lot easier to cope in the company of a dog.” Band members Thomas and Toby support the weighty lyrics with acoustic finger-picking and ethereal electric guitar parts that build toward a multi-layered closing of the track. Their organic recording style (captured live in one room without click tracks or autotune) will resonate with fans of Phoebe Bridgers, Elliott Smith and Julien Baker. Forming in early 2019, the members were previously part of the band ‘Carousel’, a project which went on to perform at Cambridge Folk Festival, toured with The Oh Hello’s and embarked on an 8-date headline tour whilst gaining 100k+ Spotify streams on official playlists. ‘Put Me Under’ is the first single from their upcoming EP and tells just one side of the band’s story. Their songwriting is a continual call and response from two perspectives: a call from one who feels too much and a response from the other who must plead for them to stay alive.

An amazing story indeed and one I think a lot of people in today's world can benefit from listening to. I too like a lot of people I know have and still am suffering from depression, so reading this story has given me much euphoria and I hope will give a lot of others the same feeling as it did me. In current times I believe bands such as these are more needed than ever, not to mention that they're also very talented individuals. So as said above they release their first single 'Put Me Under' on the 17th April 2020 so make sure to stay tuned for that. Having listened to their single already I can tell that the band are all very musically gifted and have used their talents in a way that can only be described as exceptional. The band adopt a very unique style which I have only really heard with bands such as Glasvegas (My favourite band of all time), a style with I believe to be rare but incredible. The song mentions a lot of modern commodities which I think create a euphoric reaction from whoever is listening; it certainly did to me. Beautifully sung lyrics accompanied by an equally beautiful guitar melody make this song one of the best that I've discovered through doing this. I admit whilst listening to this I did feel rather melancholy, but in an uplifting way; a lot of bands have the ability to make you sad through their songs but at the same time this music is uplifting too. It's a very well structured piece of music and was an absolute pleasure to discover. Reading the story and then listening to the song really does create a sense of hope and inspiration that no matter what is troubling you guys, you can do whatever you want to do and make whatever that may be amazing, just like the song. I am happy to have found this, in a time where a lot more people that before may be feeling down and out. It's a lovely song and the band are evidently very talented and have a bright future ahead of them. I hope you guys enjoyed this blog and obviously make sure to check 'In Earnest' out and whilst you're at it share this blog and comment below. Stay safe, stay positive and I'll catch you very soon. Peace.