Single Review: Bright

Bright is the brand new, debut single from Auckland indie pop rock five piece Marmalade. Straight out the gate, it is a song  filled with infectious vocal hooks, harmonies, lush guitar melodies’ and solos backed by a solid rhythm section. Bright is an fantastic introduction to Marmalade.

The song slides in at just under 3 minutes but every second of the song is mapped out with well written parts and musicianship. The production is smooth and well mixed, incapsulating genres of indie and folk and infused with pop production and pop rock vibes. The balance between all instruments set the foundation, with finer details and frills sitting over the top but not taking away from core sound. 

Lead vocalist Jemiliah Ross-Hayes delivers a heartfelt story of the dreamers dream and the dreamers reality, a story many can relate too and her voice flows effortlessly between more subdued verses to sing along and harmonious chorus’s. The backing vocals and vocal harmonies amplify the chorus, a fun, catchy and sing along vibe. 

The guitar solo, initially built around the vocal melody slowly becomes more frantic, showcasing the eclectic styles of guitarist Liam Nuttall. The song ascends into the final chorus, growing with additional guitar layers and vocals, really driving the song home to the final crescendo. The rhythm section of bassist Chelsea Naepi and drummer Dean Rodrigues keep the groove and the feel, whilst guitarists Nuttall & Koen Aldershof amplify and interweave guitars from core guitar riffs to hooky leads.  

An excellent debut, with more tunes to come, Marmalade are already making a name for themselves in our great Aotearoa and beyond. One to watch.