Aberdeen’s Palejoy have dropped their new single “What a Sad Little Life, Jane” on 28 August, a track that marks a darker shift in their writing. To mark the release, the band pulled together a list of bands they believe deserve more attention. The full recommendations are below.
While the title nods to a cutting line from Channel 4’s Come Dine With Me, the song itself is anchored in grief. Bassist Jamie Reid, who takes the lead vocal here, wrote it after the loss of his mother to cancer. “It dives headfirst into the pain, confusion, and numbness of grief,” he explains.
Musically, “What a Sad Little Life, Jane” leans on heavier tones and brooding textures, carrying a weight that lingers. The band recorded with Mark Morrow, who handled production, mixing and mastering. The release will also be accompanied by a lyric video to highlight the words and the mood behind them.
Palejoy—made up of Kieran Angus, Dale Sutherland, and Jamie Reid—have been pushing through Scotland’s alternative scene with a handful of demo releases, a viral moment online, and shows alongside Split Chain, Lo Rays, and others. They’ve also sold out a headline show in their home city.
Members previously played in Broadsea and Alkanes, and their music draws from personal experiences, pairing raw guitars with introspective lyrics.
In connection with the release, the band put together a selection of groups they feel are flying under the radar. You’ll find their full picks below.
Terminals
As a three-piece ourselves, we love a solid three-piece band. Terminals are a band we’ve admired for a couple of years now. For just three members, they sound massive! Huge riffs, solid thunderous drums and stunning vocals. Think a melting pot of bands like Deftones, Helmet and Meshuggah with vocals in the vein of Jeff Buckley and Conor Mason (Nothing But Thieves). We caught them at 2000 Trees this year and they had drawn an excellent crowd for playing at 10:30am. Very tight live band too.
Crashes
From one tight live band to another. Crashes have been one of the tightest bands in the Scottish music scene for years now. They know how to write incredibly catchy Pop-rock/Pop-punk tunes too. We’ve been lucky enough to share the stage with them a couple of times and it’s always a blast. Lovely dudes that know how to put on a fun show!
Happydaze
Another great band from the thriving Scottish music scene and another band that know how to write a great hook. Their music carries an energy that should be felt as it echoes around arenas. They are an incredibly under rated band who should be huge!
Lo Rays
This band have been killing it in the Scottish scene and are quite unique compared to what else Scotland has to offer. Great songs and great production. They have such a cool vibe and have created post-apocalyptic imagery that ties in with their sound perfectly. Another band we have shared the stage with on a couple of occasions. Great people and VERY talented.
Sleep Outside
Flying the flag for emo in Wales, or should we say, “Celtic Emo.” These dudes write emo bangers for days. If you can’t already tell, we love a good hook, and these guys deliver. Great lyrics too. We would love to share the stage with these guys one day. One big Celtic Emo extravaganza!
Below The Neck
Our good friends putting Inverness on the map in the Metalcore scene. Watching them progress over the years has been a joy to watch. Their live shows are always full of energy, and they always get the crowd HYPED. Every single time they step on stage, they put on banger, after banger, after banger. They supported Thrown recently in Glasgow and the crowd was wild. Fully deserved, so proud of them!
Mouth Culture
Having toured with You Me At Six, they are probably one of the more established bands on our list but still very under rated, nonetheless. Great energy with catchy choruses that get stuck in your head for days and they’re only getting better and better with each release. Future festival headliners for sure.
Slowmove
A band flying the flag for underground emo music in Scotland. Real, honest lyrics that don’t sugar coat anything. Everything they do feels authentic and relatable. There’s a bit of a Basement vibe going on musically too. They are RIGHT up our street. Would love to play with them in the future!
