The Mandevilles 1

The Mandevilles – “Wasn’t Always” (Focus Track Review)

The Mandevilles 1

The Mandevilles unveil their EP, Junkie, with focus track, “Wasn’t Always”

Welland, ON-based five-piece Rock and Roll band, The Mandevilles, have unveiled their EP, Junkie.

“When we were writing the songs that make up the Junkie EP, we didn’t think there was a concrete underlying theme. But, ultimately, most of the lyrics end up being about whatever’s going on in your life at the time.” Vocalist, Serena adds, “I was heartbroken, so there’s a lot about the death of that relationship in there.”

The band started laying things down in the studio – what we thought were just gritty demos turned into really incredible recordings with our friends and co-producers, Neil Morrissey and Ryan Defoe.

We’ve cultivated such an amazing working and personal friendship with Neil and Ryan over the last few years. The whole process leading into production has never felt so natural – it was an instant connection.”

Serena picks the focus track “Wasn’t Always” as her favourite song on the record.

“To me, it picks up where “Turn a Blind Eye” left off. It’s some of the best songwriting we’ve done,” she’s referring to the single from the 2012 album Goodnight Golden Sun. “It started with the lyric and melody “I wasn’t always like this” as we were noodling over what became the pre-chorus chord progression. The idea is that you can be changed into something you no longer recognize as yourself. By a person or circumstance. It’s an introspective soliloquy – a plea to yourself. The rhythmic drum pattern hypnotizes.”

Review

Starting with an intense beat, “Wasn’t Always” immediately oozes a pure rock sound. Serena Pryne’s powerful, raspy vocals meld perfectly with the music creating a track that listeners will surely be singing along with at shows.

The lyrics, “Sleep, I want it more than I can dream, At least I can’t watch the rise and fall as you breathe, I could use a little kindness, I wasn’t always like this, You complain, but you’re all the same, and on and on and on,” could be interpreted in different ways, which I always enjoy. The song continues Serena belts out repeatedly, “I wasn’t always,” which leans into the whole pattern of looking back on times that have passed and not allowing yourself to live in the now. At least, that’s what I get from it.

So, with feet tapping while I rock out in my chair, I highly recommend this track and the whole Junkie EP for any rock fans out there.

Listen to “Wasn’t Always” below and stay up to date with The Mandevilles via their socials.

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