UK alt-rock artist Scarlet Joy returns with her brand-new single, “Never Let Me Go” (out 2nd September 2025), a vibrant anthem that captures both urgency and euphoria. With soaring guitars, pounding rhythms, and Scarlet’s emotive vocal delivery, the track embodies the high-energy thrill of human connection. It’s an instantly infectious song, brimming with passion and perfectly timed to soundtrack the waning days of summer.
Scarlet Joy is the alter ego of Sophia, a songwriter, singer, and guitarist from Lincoln, Lincolnshire. She launched the project in 2019, carving out a space for herself with music that is raw, uncompromising, and deeply personal. Influenced by the likes of PJ Harvey, Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, and Florence + The Machine, her sound blends grit with vulnerability, creating a dynamic alt-rock identity that feels both powerful and cathartic.
Her debut album, Mourning Pages (2022), introduced audiences to her unflinching songwriting — tackling themes of love, loss, fate, and the struggles of the human condition. Now, with her upcoming EP The Burning Days, Scarlet enters a bold new chapter. Written during her early sobriety, the project is both a reckoning and a release: a fearless exploration of addiction, recovery, resilience, and the need for connection.
Recorded at Superfly Studios with producer Andy Banfield, the single features Tom Latham on bass and Phil Wilsonon drums. The production is crisp but raw, capturing the energy of a live performance while amplifying its anthemic qualities.
“Never Let Me Go” launches with driving guitar riffs that immediately set a forward momentum. The rhythm section is relentless, carrying the listener along with steady force. Over this foundation, Scarlet’s vocals cut through with both urgency and emotion — at once commanding and vulnerable. When the chorus arrives, it’s expansive and uplifting, a release of tension that makes the track impossible not to play on repeat.
What sets the song apart is its dual nature: it’s a high-energy rock anthem, but at its core, it carries an intimate honesty rooted in Scarlet’s lived experience. That tension — between the personal and the universal, the struggle and the release — gives the single its staying power.
“Never Let Me Go” follows July’s single “Back for More”, which gained recognition on BBC Introducing East Midlands. Together, these releases mark Scarlet Joy as a rising force in the UK alt-rock scene, with momentum clearly building in 2025. By pairing dynamic arrangements with raw lyrical depth, she is steadily crafting a reputation as an artist who can both captivate and connect.
Scarlet Joy describes her project as a way to transform pain into power — and “Never Let Me Go” embodies that mission. It’s bold, unapologetic alt-rock: both cathartic and celebratory, with a chorus built to echo in venues and playlists alike. For fans of emotionally charged rock music with teeth, this single is a must-hear.
Scarlet Joy asks, “Could this be your new alt-rock obsession?” With “Never Let Me Go,” the answer feels like a resounding yes.
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