Track Review: Somehow I’m Alive // Carley Varley
From busking in the seaside town of Lymington in 2016 to the stages of The Ritz and The Waldorf in London, UK-based singer-songwriter Carley Varley has been sharing her sensational sound with the masses for almost a decade. Described by Rock Generation as having a “…stunning voice that combines beautifully with her exceptionally good guitar skills”, Carley lights up the room with her musical skills. Featured on notable press like BBC Introducing, York Calling, Indie Dock Music Blog, Carte Blanche Music, RGM and various others, Carley Varley is garnering a strong following. The latest addition to her discography is the single ‘Somehow I’m Alive’.
In an interview with York Calling, Carley notes that she is “…influenced by bands like Linkin Park, Paramore, Against The Current and…Conquer Divide. I love these groups and I’m obsessed with their musicality…” – which makes total sense considering her similarity to Hayley Williams from Paramore. Dipping into the pop scene, this talented songstress built a strong pop-rock following; however, it seems she is stepping into alternative rock with her new singles. In the same interview with York Calling, Carley shared that she “…absolutely love the pop/rock genre and I feel I’ve really found my sound in this genre…” – so, is her versatility showing or is she leaning toward the same ol’, same ol’, in ‘Somehow I’m Alive’? The answer: she’s a very versatile artist.
Following her track ‘Better Without Me’, Carley delves further into the darker, heavy side of the pop-rock/pop-punk sound. Unlike ‘Better Without Me’ which has an “in your face” upbeat style lying somewhere between Paramore’s ‘Misery Business’ and Avril Lavigne’s ‘I’m With You’, ‘Somehow I’m Alive’ leans toward Paramore’s ‘Decode’; however, a harder, rougher, more unique melody is emerging in this single. As I mentioned above, Carley Varley’s vocal execution is reminiscent of Hayley Williams, but the obscurity and soul-soaring arrangement is something purely Carley Varley.
The second track off her upcoming mini-album, ‘Somehow I’m Alive’ is another deconstruction of human emotion. Using a personal narrative, she connects with audiences with intense intimacy clearly expressing anxiety, fear, pain and angst through the haunting melody. What I find intriguing is how subdued ‘Somehow I’m Alive’ can be, but also vivacious and full-bodied. The richness belies a delicate examination of human fragility so you’re lost in a swirl of kaleidoscopic sound and are pulled close in a sonic embrace. I can’t wait for more from Carley Varley.
This artist was found on Musosoup #sustainablecurator