Still Blank return with new single “Ain’t Quite Right” — a darker, more charged offering that twists disquiet into beauty and continues to blur the edges of the duo’s already elusive sound. Written during a stormy Manchester winter, the song marks a shift in dynamic for Still Blank, with Jordy (Kaua’i, Hawaii) and Ben (Manchester, UK) swapping roles in the creative process. The single pairs stripped-back production and swirling dissonance with a sense of slow-burning urgency. It’s an unsettling, arresting listen, equal parts vulnerable and confrontational.
Listen to “Ain’t Quite Right” HERE.
Said Still Blank, “We wrote the song around Christmas in rainy Manchester while listening to a lot of Sonic Youth and PJ Harvey. Usually, Ben leads the music and I work on lyrics and melody, but this one flipped. We wanted it to feel on edge—building tension. The lyrics explore a dysfunctional relationship where both sides are suffocating, and neither can let go. The guitar almost talks back to the vocal, responding with this jarring energy that adds to the unease.”
The release continues Still Blank’s partnership with National Anthem (HAIM, Chvrches), via Capitol Records, and further positions the pair as one of the most enigmatic and exciting new voices in alternative music. Drawing from shoegaze, grunge, and folk influences, their sound remains unpinned, often minimalist and always emotionally rich.
“Ain’t Quite Right” follows the hotly-tipped duo’s debut single “What About Jane” —a grungy, folk-inflected reflection on identity, societal perception, and the expectations we’re forced to confront to uncover who we really are. Under The Radar said, “Still Blank makes a striking first impression…(they) have arrived with a debut single that feels unusually assured (and) introduces a band who already seem to know exactly who they are and what they want to say.” Released last month, the single also received praise from the likes of likes of CLASH, Dork, and DIY amongst others.
Still Blank’s sound was born from unlikely roots. Jordy grew up immersed in the natural rhythms of island life in Hawaii, gigging at weddings and fundraisers by her early teens while drawing inspiration from Hawaiian traditions and the deep solitude of Kaua’i. Ben, raised on Manchester’s rich musical legacy and early pub gigs with his dad’s band, developed a taste for ambient textures, citing The Durutti Column and Vini Reilly as formative influences. Their unlikely meeting in the UK sparked a lightning-in-a-bottle creative partnership. What started as casual jam sessions in a Liverpool basement quickly evolved, with sessions ranging from stripped-back recordings on a broken classical guitar to studio lock-ins fueled by long walks through rural Wales and a shared commitment to imperfection. With lyrics steeped in people-watching, dreams, nature, and existential observation, Still Blank’s songwriting draws from both introspection and their surroundings, echoing the mood of artists like Yo La Tengo, Big Thief and Cat Power.
This fall, Still Blank will take their live show on the road, joining Royel Otis across their European tour this fall. View the full itinerary here. Known for sets that move between fragile intimacy and full-blown catharsis, these shows mark an exciting next chapter for the duo. With a growing cult curiosity within the scene, Still Blank are setting their own rules and embracing ambiguity. Stay tuned for more music coming soon.
