For me, February is one of the greatest months for musicians. It’s a month that celebrates love in all of its many hues, and for that reason, it’s perfect for virtuosos who value vulnerability, authenticity, and emotion-driven storytelling. In other words, it’s the perfect month for Amy Jolliffe and, especially her latest single ‘Love Is.’
Blooming from the Isle of Wight, Amy Jolliffe is a folk-pop singer-songwriter with a springtime radiance and a soothing talent with the guitar. Her dulcet vocals have been gracing Ryde’s vibrant music scene since 2023 when her hauntingly bittersweet debut single, ‘Don’t Ever Leave Me Baby,’ was released.
Now, Amy is back with ‘Love Is,’ a track that gorgeously combines the fantastical beauty of love with the honest reality of what love is actually all about. So, without further ado, grab your chocolates, light your candles, and explore Amy Jolliffe’s wonderful new single with me.
Love Is
Inviting you into the track with warm timbres and one of those comfy tempos that remind you of a sunny Sunday morning, ‘Love Is’ starts with a lovely acoustic guitar riff. I love that the melody of the guitar is the only thing you can hear at first, that isolated ribbon of string work exudes a stripped-down quality that enriches the rhythm of the single with a delightful sensitivity.
When Amy’s vocals start drifting atop the guitar’s gentle melody…think of it like this: the guitar is the shower of spring starlight, and Amy’s voice is the alpenglow rising to meet it. Her vocals are rich and rosy, alight with the snug positivity that love can deliver. With the accompaniment of lyrics like ‘Love is something to believe in / When you’re searching for a meaning,’ Amy’s vocals become all the more heartwarming, bolstered by the relatability within her words. After all, how many times have you felt lost in your life and love was the thing that made you feel found?
As the track progresses, slow-dancing drumbeats join the daisy chain of cosy harmonies, adding just the perfect pinch of snap to the honeyed rhythms within the single.
It also completed the image I was envisioning when listening to ‘Love Is,’ which involved the homeliness of my old teenage bedroom and the conversations I had with my mother when I didn’t understand what love meant. In other words, Amy’s new release will transport you to a time when love was an uncharted adventure, all while reminding you that you’re not alone as you embark on it. What can I say? Amy’s music just has a friendly quality to it that sounds incredibly familiar and kind.
I will admit, as I fell deeper into ‘Love Is,’ I was pleasantly surprised by the emergence of the distorted growls and grumbles of the electric guitar. Rolling like delicate thunder across the instrumental break, the distorted guitar imbued the texture of the track with a hint of roughness. This roughness contrasts the initial instrumental harmonies rather intriguingly, especially since, for me, it alluded to the complexities of love that we often find confusing or even daunting to face.
We are treated to another romantically crafted chorus before we are sent floating toward the twinkling diminuendo. Befitting of the single’s tender melodies, the ending to ‘Love Is’ delicately ebbs back into the stripped-down feel that I loved at the start of the track, finding its resting place on that last, rippling note.
All in all, ‘Love Is’ isn’t just another tale about love. Amy Jolliffe has made it so that every line and note blends seamlessly into a larger narrative of hope and excitement and even a dash of intensity and longing. There’s a certain depth to her music that makes you want to listen to more of it, and that’s a quality every successful artist needs.
Photo by Day Rutherford.
ALT: Bright and happy, Amy Jolliffe sits on a sunlit wall with sandy strips of beach visible behind her.
Amy Jolliffe
In such a short space of time, Amy Jolliffe has made it known that success stems consistently from her beautiful gifts. Having already made repeat appearances at the highly-esteemed Isle of Wight Festival and garnered recognition from both Isle of Wight Radio and Wight Noize, Amy Jolliffe’s music speaks for itself.
But, of course, the shaping of a great artist doesn’t just start with achievements and triumphs. Amy Jolliffe’s musical passions ignited at home, thanks to her father’s love of bands like U2 and Fleetwood Mac, as well as her brother’s mentorship. Under her brother’s guidance, Amy learned how to play the guitar at only 11 years old, which, after listening to ‘Love Is,’ I’m sure isn’t surprising to you.
Beyond her indubitable talents, Amy’s unique style is forged from many different clays, including everything from 1960s folk music and modern pop bops to the rustic charm of her hometown and the experiences she has lived within it.
Amy Jolliffe, being the magical songwriter that she is, has more to show us this year, and I can’t wait to see how she evolves!
‘Love Is’ is available now on all major streaming platforms. So, what are you waiting for? Go find out how beautiful love can be when it’s in the hands of a smile-inducing musician like Amy Jolliffe.
Till next time.
