London indie-folk songwriter James Crowley released his new EP, Imprint, on 18 September. The collection consists of four tracks, written in collaboration with Wolf Alice’s Joel Amey and produced by Mike Horner (who has also worked with bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Hot Wax).
By Eleanor Banyard
Feature Photo by Heather Lawrence
In a Facebook post, Crowley states that “This record is me trying to understand the marks left on us, and what we choose to do with them. Underneath it all is the question of whether we’re destined to repeat what we’ve inherited. And an invitation to find courage and choose differently.”
The first song called Co-Pilot immediately draws the listener in with a chill guitar melody paired with Crowley’s soft vocals. The lyrics explore relationship dynamics and how they shift over time: “Friends ask if we’re doing fine / Do they know? Do they see the warning in my eyes?” As the song progresses, more instrumentals are added to build an energetic beat that juxtaposes the reflective message.
Imprint is a melancholic and vulnerable merging of deep lyrics and soft instrumentation. Crowley’s vocals stand out and act as the anchor of the track. Listeners can hear the deep emotions he is projecting into the song. The calming guitar riff in the background melts into his voice.
I Wish I Could Just Do Something, begins with Crowley’s stirring lyrics: “There’s a bee sting on my thigh / Teaching me about sacrifice.” The track grapples with the intergenerational transmission of emotions within families. This song is haunting and in the latter half of the track, Crowley’s vocals overlap with one another to create an ethereal soundscape. At the end of the track, the artist not only reflects on how those close affect him but also his impact on others too.
(Am I ) Strong Enough is the final track on the EP and begins with subdued and sombre vocals paired with slow instrumentals. As the track carries on, the instrumentals grow into a stronger beat and more prominent guitar riff. The vocals also follow the shift in instrumentals for the chorus of the track before reverting back to the slower initial pace.
Crowley has previously released numerous singles, with Play to Win being his most-streamed song on Spotify, as well as an EP What I Thought I Felt. He is going to play at The Victoria in London on 14 October 2026.
Imprint is out now, and you can listen to it below.
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