The past two years have been incredibly challenging for all of us. A global pandemic is still going on, and even though things have returned to some form of normality, some uncertainty remains. But if there has been any silver lining amidst the peak of lockdown, it’s that during that time a lot of artists took the time to create, and new projects and bands were formed.
Two years later, we’re just beginning to see more and more of those new projects finally starting to emerge in the form of a first album, or a first EP, or playing a first live show.
One such project comes from a duo based in the U.K. in Sheffield, a city in South Yorkshire.
Earlier this spring The Distance performed their first public show and had begun to publish some content on their social media in the form of covers.
From Sheryl Crow to Sam and Dave, and even some Lady Gaga thrown into the mix, the two have put their own charming stripped-down, bluesy-rock spin on a small handful of songs, whilst leading up to what is now their debut single.
‘Is This All There Is’ opens up with some folk finesse on the acoustic guitar, followed by some blues-fuelled, melancholic lyrics. The opening of line of “working 9-5, just to stay alive,” “walk the city streets, my aching feet,” is something that so many people who are living paycheck to paycheck can relate to. It’s something we don’t think about very often, if at all. Most people just mindlessly go about their day and repeat that scenario day in and day out, without even asking the question, ‘Is This All There is?’
In the second half of the song, we see the percussion start to pick up a bit, and while it has an almost sombre tone, I could see it being something you could easily stomp your foot to and clap along with. In a way, one could describe the song as a ‘cathartic jam’. Lyrically, the final verse of the song is not looking so much at one’s personal life, but more at the outside world around them.
In particular, homelessness. Again, most people go about their day paying no mind to the social or the economic hardships of others, and it does seem at times, as if that really is all there is. I enjoyed how the song is directing the message in not only an inside look, but outside as well. One of the things I find most entrancing about the track, are the harmonies. There’s a touch of it on ‘Is This All There is’, but it’s been more prominent in their covers. The harmonising is done beautifully.
The Distance have unleashed an incredible debut single. It’s an exciting project and one you’ll want to keep an eye on and see what this up-and-coming duo come out with next. Especially in terms of perhaps a future album, an LP, and maybe some more covers in the meantime, which you can check out on their social media and YouTube channel. These two are just getting started, and with their unique fusion of rock, folk, and blues, one thing is certain – this is not all there is for The Distance.
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