It was in 2021 that British singer songwriter Jenny Colquitt first featured on these pages. Now she’s back thanks to the release of her second studio album.

By Graeme Smith

Jenny’s new album Staring at the Moon sees her reflecting on universal themes of love, loss and human vulnerability in a way that only she can. Inviting us to step away from ourselves, we are encouraged to view ourselves as the fragile creatures we are compared to the great forces of the universe.

Musically it brings together the genres of folk, rock and pop to create a varied collection that will have you hooked right from the delicate, piano-led intro of Bravest of the Brave. Jenny’s vocals are instantly arresting during a contemplative, nostalgic verse before things build to a cinematic climax.

No One Loves Me Like You takes the energy up a notch with a romantic and atmospheric number. I’m Fading is soft and melancholic while Without You rounds off the album’s early listening with a heart-wrenching and exposed moment that will have you feeling along.

From there we get a mix of the gentle and introspective and the richly enveloping. Whether stripped-back and acoustic, or layered and electronic, the production stays high quality, giving plenty of space to Jenny’s vocals while keeping the emotion high. For A Moment is a dramatic highlight, as is the defiant and rousing Fallin’ Angels. The album is closed memorably by its slow-burning title track.

It’s so good to have Jenny back on the blog after all this time, and Staring at the Moon is the perfect re-introduction to her music. It’s such a beautifully put together album, led with strength and empathy by Jenny’s expressive vocals. Its mix of genres keeps things interesting while it’s kept coherent by its poetic lyrical themes.

Jenny is currently on tour with her album. Tickets are available for all her dates here.

Staring at the Moon is out now. It’s available to buy as a digital download, on vinyl or on CD from Jenny’s Bandcamp page, and you can check it out below.