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West Yorkshire’s HerOrangeCoat returns with her first release of 2024 in “Ballad 1 (Sorry)”. It’s the first of what to expect from her upcoming EP Ballads Of This Age, which is comprised of a series of ballads about various difficulties she experienced during her early twenties. It’s not out until November, but this new single makes us wish for the next few months to fly by.
“Ballad 1 (Sorry)” documents the mental health crisis currently sweeping the country, with HerOrangeCoat’s own journey with anxiety included too. It feels like a definitive end, but details how life carries on, regardless of what’s happened. It’s like the first breath you take after you give up, the “Okay, now what?” thought that feels so raw and terrifying.
Built with plucked ukulele strings and lead by the most mournful of vocals, the instrumental is so original. Offering up apologies for various things that have been negated by anxiety – events, interactions, conversations – an open honesty throughout the lyrics pieces just how debilitating it is. Shrouded by ominous harmonies, strings and all sorts of different instruments, it’s a haunting listen that feels like it’s straight from the soul.
As someone who also deals with anxiety, “Ballad 1 (Sorry)” resonates on a deep level. It has a brutal sense of finality to it but introduces us to a vast level of introspection that’s genuinely fascinating. While that finality is etched throughout all of its layers, there’s also an element of hope that’s interested to see what’s next.
It’s beautiful and unlike anything else I’ve heard this year. HerOrangeCoat stands out in so many ways, and I’m so looking forward to having the rest of these ballads act as checkpoints for the closing half of the year.