If Debbie Harry took her vocal talent on a sojourn to folk-rock territory and tinged the tonal atmosphere with the chill of 80s post-punk, it would result in a soundscape as phenomenally original as Come Along, by tongueshy which sets the bar for how much life can be poured into sound.
While there’s some brashy discord in the mix and a frenetic folk pulse joined by searing angular guitar lines, Come Along still paradoxically instantly feels like a consoling home as you listen to tongueshy pour out her rejection angst into the release, which is by far the most authentic sonic signature that I’ve seen scribed across the airwaves this year.
tongueshy is the solo vehicle for Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jazeen Hollings, who layered the track from the ground up with rhythm guitar, synth, bass, lead, and vocals. While her studio work delivers raw lo-fi urgency, her live sets are stripped bare. Just her, an acoustic guitar, and whatever she needs to get off her chest. Her commitment to confronting heartbreak and self-discovery with sardonic transparency folds into her sound as tightly as the heartbreak that birthed the project. After a break-up, a cross-country move, and a crash landing back in her childhood bedroom, Come Along didn’t arrive—it demanded to exist.
If you get the opportunity to see her in an intimate space, consider yourself blessed. With her ability to speak beyond her lyricism and lock straight into the soul, she’s a diamond in the rough.
Come Along is now available to stream on all major platforms. Find your preferred way to listen via the artist’s website.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
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