The Pennydrops – Nightblindness (2025)
Already followers of each other’s solo projects, singer-songwriters J.J. Chamberlain and Izzy Hartley discovered a shared passion for music, similarities in their songwriting processes, and a desire to create a sound that would bring the best of each into a single unit; hence, The Pennydrops was born. Technically formed when the pair met in Autumn 2024 – yep, the burning ember that defines The Pennydrops was already simmering – the UK-based duo only began writing together in January 2025. Skip ahead a few months, and we’re introduced to something bright, shiny and new, but with the knowledge of mature, seasoned artists. Join us as we delve into their debut single, ‘Nightblindness’.
The first song Chamberlain and Hartley wrote together, ‘Nightblindness’ immediately drags listeners back to the days of Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. With an old-school folk tone carried through the track, one might consider The Pennydrops to be a folk duo; however, within the lilt of folk, the pair clip onto a genre-diverse tone. Produced with Tom Hartley, ‘Nightblindness’ binds the acoustic guitars of Chamberlain and Hartley, building that folk sound, but elements of classic rock and indie-rock glide in and out of the track.
For me, it is not merely the elegant melody that showcases the natural understanding and camaraderie of Chamberlain and Hartley, but rather the weaving of their vocals within the track. Rich, warm and distinctive, they complement each other, dancing across the single while still retaining individuality.
Melodically, the track shimmers in a simplistic soundscape that also brims with kaleidoscopic brightness; however, it is the lyricism that adds weight to an already full-bodied sound. The Pennydrops explain:
“This song is a damning indictment against an unspoken enemy. The lyrics depict an internal struggle between fight-or-flight through an underlying predator-prey metaphor… The song uses lots of extended metaphors, mostly using the premise of feeling threatened or unwantedly being pursued… It’s sad yet exciting, uplifting in its anger – a cathartic call to the hard-done by…”
Sincere and sentimental with honesty, originality, and introspection, ‘Nightblindness’ combines the core of two talents into one united pairing. With this as their debut, I am eager to hear more from The Pennydrops.
Find out more about The Pennnydrops on their Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more folk-rock music on The Other Side Reviews Folk Rock playlist:
