Andy Smythe – Leviathan (2026)
In a couple of months, singer-songwriter Andy Smythe is set to release his highly anticipated eighth studio album, Quiet Revolution. An album that will “…delve into complex narratives of societal struggle and psychological drama, set against the backdrop of a world grappling with the rise of AI and political upheaval” – sound like a reality you know? In December, Smythe presented his single ‘Emergency’, and today we continue the tasters to his track list with his new single, ‘Leviathan’.
An artist unafraid to look at all areas of life, from the gory grossness to the grin-inducing sublime, Smythe binds genres as much as he evokes profound contemplation. In ‘Emergency’, there was a haunting ballad-esque with Britpop sentiments; in ‘Leviathan’, he gives us an upbeat, folk-induced ska-tinged indie-pop melody. Entirely a solo project from the piano to the percussion, the acoustic guitar to the drums, Smythe pours himself into each chord of every song – in this case, ‘Leviathan’.
For me, the track is reminiscent of The Beatles’ jangle-pop – a bouncy carnival tune with toe-tapping charm. In fact, it is this bouncy beat with dazzling kaleidoscopic wafts of glee that makes ‘Leviathan’ rather intriguing. A song of hope and empowerment, but with the juxtaposition of darker lyricism adds the Dylan-esque poignancy to this track. Smythe explains:
“’Leviathan’ is a song about hope at the dawn of 2026 and a lament for the current state of the world. A hope that one day leaders the world over will be replaced by a more benevolent central ‘Leviathan’ that distributes resources more fairly and reduces war, poverty and famine and unifies humanity…”
Already a fan of Andy Smythe, one might consider this review a bit biased – but you really shouldn’t. The fact is, Smythe adds a spark to every melody that makes it individual, original and inspiring. Of course, I have my least favourites and most favourites, but I can assure you that after one listen, you’ll have Smythe as a favourite. I cannot wait to hear his upcoming album.
Find out more about Andy Smythe on his official website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Bandcamp, SoundCloud and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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