Alice Jayne “The Hanged Man” - Review

From Rockability to dark pop, Alice Jayne took a leap of faith. She sailed to an unfamiliar water, in which she discovered unlikely sceneries, but more importantly, a part of herself that has always been true but remained hidden. Speaking about Rockability, Jayne revealed that she has never felt truly belonged in the genre. She took two years to reinvent herself and rediscover her sound and creativity. “The Hanged Man” is the light at the end of the tunnel, where all the chains were truly broken.

The darkly conscious track talks about patterns, the loops that people find themselves being trapped inside in relation to trauma, toxicity and pain. Finding oneself in the turmoil of emotional roller coaster isn’t the best place in the world. There’s a certain awareness being clouded by indecision and confusion. “The hanged man” is a perfect analogy. Just like the recurring guitar riff with a touch of cosmo and destiny, the darkest time of life is full of opportunity and growth. The chilly undertone evokes the feeling of compassion with its reverberant sonic palette. There’s always light in the darkness.

Like the chains that restrain us from going further, the breaking of it isn’t easy. “The Hanged Man” is darkly fascinating, but it’s also energetic and hopeful. The eclectic beats turn the wheel faster and faster until pattern is broken. Jayne’s deeply emotive vocal feels like the swords that cut loose of mental restraints. She’s able to channel the hopelessness and heart wrenching feelings in her music, but instead of indulging herself into the mud and darkness, there’s fight and courage in her voice.

Heartfelt lyrics grew from a place of pain and trauma. Jayne speaks of matters close to her heart and brings it into her sonics. “The Hanged Man” has the depth and power unlike anything she has done before, and it’s certainly exciting to see where she’ll go next in her musical adventure.