Uninvited break into the scene with debut track ‘Tomboy’
The Scottish alt-rock group are here to mess with the system and make their voices heard
Photo: Cara Barbour
To anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t dress, feel, or act feminine enough, this is your anthem. Bursting onto the scene with their debut single, Uninvited are sending all the right messages with all the right melodies.
This track gets right to the point, right from the get-go, and in more ways than one. The catchy guitar phrase, driving drums, and steady bass kick us off before giving way to Ray Dillon’s blend of smooth yet raspy vocals. The lyrics instantly paint the picture of who we would expect a tomboy to be, but then delve in deeper and add a hint of insecurity about that identity.
But this fleeting doubt gives way to a pre-chorus that boldly embraces all of a tomboy’s positive aspects, building in perfect tandem with the crescendo. Erupting into the chorus, we are gifted explosive vocals and an exuberant guitar riff that adds unwinding and dynamic layers. Lasting only four lines, we are denied the true satisfaction of hearing the leading melody a second time, and the short but oh-so-sweet offering leaves us craving more.
The next half of the song focuses more on the real message behind what it means to be called a tomboy. The verse following the chorus is all about the lyrics as the guitar and drums fade away, leaving only the bass to act as a canvas while we focus on what the words are painting. The band’s personal experiences of being tomboys are placed under the spotlight, and the honesty and simplicity in their writing is refreshing. The LGBTQ+ themes are neither subtle nor heavy-handed but are created in a way that somehow makes them relatable whether you are part of the community or not.
The song draws to a close with another teasingly brief but brilliant musical interlude by way of Bex Young’s crisp guitar solo, which leads us stylishly into the final chorus. Despite being labelled as tomboys throughout the song, we see the band now embrace that branding with a defiant correction of “She’s a soft toy” to “No, she’s a tomboy”. With that lasting, powerful encouragement to own your identity, these tomboys could be well on their way to making fitting-in go out of fashion.
Formed in late summer 2020, the Scottish group consists of Ray Dillon on vocals and bass, Gillian Dhlakama on vocals and guitar, Bex Young on lead guitar, and Fiorenza Cocozza on drums. Watch this space for their next moves.
