With the amount of emerging talent currently bursting onto the scene, it can be hard to keep up with the hottest new acts.

So here at Hot Vox we’re slowing things down and really taking the time to check out one of our favourite new acts.

Shallow Honey is comprised of a quartet of creatives hailing from Brighton. Describing themselves as a quiet/loud-alt/dirty pop rock act the group strives to create songs that not only take the listener on a journey, but also captivates the listener with haunting melodies. The foursome also cites 90’s alternative rock as a key influence in their music style.

Since the band’s debut in 2019, Shallow Honey has released four compelling singles: “Control” (2021), “Emily Doe” (2021), “Draw The Line” (2022) and most recently “Explain” (2022). Their debut single “Control” emphasizes the struggle of female identity being entrapped in social conformity, as the lyrics “Know your place, stay in line, be forgotten, smile, smile, smile” provide imagery of said concept. The highlight of this track comes during the last 10 seconds, where lead vocalist Rai Conway eerily chants the word “smile” over and over until the end. This chant creates the image of overcoming a controlling environment and breaking free from the grips of people that dictate what gender norms should be.

“Explain”, released on 16th September, furthers the conversation about women’s rights found in “Control” as the group describes the song to be about “how the overshadowing of a man’s fragile ego” leave many women to look for an escape out of the relationship. This song was also heavily inspired by the Riot Grrrl Movement of the 1990s, a subcultural movement that combines feminism and other politics with the likes of punk music. Conway’s belts are powerfully driven throughout the song, making her innate rage very compelling.

Shallow Honey has had an overwhelming amount of support from the likes of Melita Dennett’s BBC Introducing the South, Slack City Radio, Global Voice and Sussex Music Magazine. Since the start of the year, the quartet has been touring around the southern coast, playing in cities such as Worthing, Deptford, and their hometown of Brighton. Stay tuned for their upcoming show with us at The Hope & Ruin in Brighton on Sunday 27th November! We can’t wait to see where the band progresses next!