S J Denney is an Essex-based singer/songwriter who’s had a rather busy year so far! With four singles and two EPs already released, the multi-instrumentalist has now decided to have a bash at his first-ever Halloween song. Aptly titled ‘Witch’s Brew’, the artist admits to finding inspiration upon hearing the bass line of ‘Lonely This Christmas’ by the English glam rock band Mud. “I heard the bass line through the floorboards,” he says. “However, as I was in another room, I heard it quite differently”.
The result is one of the most intriguing and fascinating tunes I’ve heard all year. Simply impossible to place in any sort of box, ‘Witch’s Brew’ features a wide range of instruments, including a beautiful tárogató as well as a haunting piccolo trumpet. If I’m being completely honest, it’s really unlike anything I’ve heard for a while. There’s a hint of Andrew Bird in how S J goes about constructing the track, but his clear authenticity shines straight through!
A musician who seems so attuned to the pulse of music and what he’s trying to convey, Denney is a true artist in every sense of the word. ‘Witch’s Brew’ is an instant classic as far as I’m concerned, and I eagerly await S J’s next musical creation!
Serious tune alert! Enjoy ‘Witch’s Brew’ on Spotify now: