It’s been a couple of years since we’ve shared anything from JW Paris, but their new single has sent them roaring back onto our radar.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Marcus Clarke

The London-based band features Gemma Clarke (as found in the line-ups of Babyshambles and Adam Ant), Danny Collins, and Aaron Forde. They’re on a mission to bring back the best of Britpop and give it a dirty edge.

We’ve previously shared a few singles from them over the back end of 2023. In July of that year we shared their video, Leave It Alone which I described as brimming “with a sense of unease mixed with a confident swagger.”

October saw them return with the astute You’ve Got Me which dwelled on toxic relationships and social media algorithms before the band rounded off the year with the realness of Alive.

New single Anything reminds us why we fell in love with them back then.

A groovy riff gets things going before charismatic, quick-fire vocals come in. There’s an instantly throwback feel about the track, but with a polished sheen that is modern.

Lyrically, the track touches on themes of possibility, identity, dreams and nightmares. A sense of nihilism runs through them all. “I could be anything, but everything is nothing… If dreaming was a reality, then my nightmare would look a little bit like you,” they muse, before finding some fire during the line: “don’t try to bring me down and make me feel this way.”

As the track progresses, the instrumental ramps up, finding contrast in the bridge. The groove never lets up, really capturing the essence of that ‘90s bittersweet sound. It says: ‘we’re not OK, but that’s OK.’ A strong finish lingers.

JW Paris may just be the most unsung force in British rock, but they’re not without their fans. BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders has praised their “face-melting riffs”, and they’ve captured the attention of the likes of Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music), John Kennedy (Radio X), Kerrie Cosh (BBC Introducing), and Chris Hawkins (BBC 6 Music).

It’s easy to see why with the quality of music they’re putting out. I love their distinct point of view and the way they go about constructing a track. We didn’t need a reminder of how good they were, but Anything acts as one all the same.

Taken from their upcoming EP, set for release this year, Anything is out now. You can give it a listen below.

Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator