Chosen by Monk
My latest selection is not exactly a “new” single per se, as Bristol-based alt-rock trio Pollyanna Blue originally proved that they are ‘Strong Enough’ to face life’s travails back in June last year, but have today released a new video treatment of the song to mark the start of what promises to be a busy year for the band.
Formed in the summer of 2019 by Zoe Collins (guitar and vocals) and Rich Earle (bass and vocals), the band’s name was inspired by a self-help book, ‘Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway’, which talks about a nickname ‘Pollyanna’, typically given to a person who is deemed overly optimistic. That ethos, blended with the waves of difficult emotions life throws at you, creates a concept of musical juxtaposition within a ’90s/’00s alt-rock atmosphere which sees the now-three-piece wield their self-discovery, vulnerability and love of music to create something authentic and raw to connect with anyone experiencing some type of hardship.
Pollyanna Blue’s debut studio EP, ‘Trials & Tribulations’, was released in last June. Originally released at the same time, ‘Strong Enough’ is a reminder that despite how you feel, deep down, you are good enough and strong enough to overcome all that gets in your way, as Zoe Collins explains:
[It] is a song written to defy feelings of doubt and helplessness when working through any obstacle that comes your way. The lyrics were written in a time that Pollyanna Blue were about to go into the studio to record vocals. The creative pressure can sometimes become a challenging place for any artist and this pressure became the catalyst for the lyrics. ‘In times like these, when life gets tough, I’ll show myself I’m strong enough’. I took the pressure of writing lyrics and put my positive Pollyanna spin on it and embellished this alt rock anthem with real meaning.
The band created a stylized performance video using elements of body movement and production to mirror the struggles and mentality of a creative process, incorporating the frustration and anger of a creative block and the weightlessness of no direction or inspiration. The video serves as the bridge between the debut EP and into the band’s exciting new era. With the addition of newest member Neil Loftus (drums) and a look at how Pollyanna Blue has grown creatively with their latest video, this is a first glimpse at what is yet to come for the rest of the year: