Brand new single from Fierce Friend

Hailing from Brighton Fierce Friend is the solo project of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alan Grice, an artist who’s been making his presence felt int the city’s indie and art pop landscape. Through years of collaboration, experimentation and performance, the project has bloomed into something at once accessible and highly unique, folding strong melodies into alternative arrangements that swirl into unexpected areas.

Although previous support from BBC Radio 6 Music helped shine a spotlight on his work, Fierce Friend has always felt driven by something more personal than external recognition. Fuelling the endeavour is a fascination with contrast where songs often begin with bright hooks and familiar structures before gradually shifting shape, introducing unusual chord changes, immersive textures and sonic turns. It’s a sound that initially appears straightforward but frequently reveals deeper complexities as tracks play out, creating a listening experience that rewards repeated attention.

That creative philosophy was firmly established with the release of the debut album Lies That Comfort You in 2018 and since then, the world around Fierce Friend has become noticeably louder. The latest material moves away from the more pastoral qualities associated with a traditional live band and instead embraces the energy and diverse sounds of electronics. Machine-driven rhythms, spiralling synth lines, distorted guitars and direct vocal performances now form the pillars of the sound in a shift that feels like a natural response to a world characterised by tension, impatience and constant noise.

Now, following the success of recent release “Blood Red Hills,” Fierce Friend brings us his latest release with the new single titled “Make Me Forget You.” Fast, catchy and packed with energy, the track channels the chaos of a breakup into a sharp burst of guitar-driven pop music which distils the desire to move on from someone while remaining emotionally tethered to them. The song is instilled with a sense of frustration, regret and abiding affection, all colliding within a framework that dances through twists and turns.

Influences from 90s alternative rock, power pop and pop punk can be felt throughout, but the song filters those inspirations into something thoroughly new. Set up by the flicker of a buzzing run of looped notes, the charging punch of percussion filters in before the arrangement launches with a jump of driving chords, splashing drums and wailing lead notes. Simmering down to a verse of pattering drums, lively bass pulses and smooth vocal leads, the track glides with an intricate blend of jittery energy and delicate melodies while the chorus lands with a surges of gripping instrumentation and memorable vocals.

Dashed with slick instrumental flourishes and infectious hooks, the song reaches a dreamy bridge where elegant instrumental tones, soft vocals and lilting rhythmic sway cast a mellow scene that gives way to an epic finale of building energy. As Fierce Friend goes from strength to strength while venturing through contrasting emotions or increasingly exhilarating sonic areas, Alan Grice continues to create music that invites listeners in before leading them somewhere far more complicated than they first expected and we can’t wait to see what comes next.

Listen to Make Me Forget You below

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