The Isle of Wight trio 5 Degrees North delivers their darkest work yet with “Julie Anne”, a fifth single that weaponizes their alt-rock prowess to explore obsession’s dangerous spiral. Recorded at Empire Sounds, the track marks an artistic leap through its deliberate structural unraveling, beginning with restrained verses before descending into the kind of riff-driven intensity that echoes their Royal Blood and Muse influences.
What makes the song compelling is how its musical progression mirrors the lyrical descent into fixation. As Will Morrison’s vocals grow increasingly urgent about being unable to “get your mind off someone,” the instrumentation follows suit: Michael Fuller’s basslines darken, Louis Marshall’s drum patterns fracture, and the band’s first use of female backing vocals adds haunting counterpoint. The track’s carefully crafted escalation from moody introspection to full-throttle catharsis perfectly embodies their stated goal of showing “how dangerous obsession can get.”
While maintaining the melodic sensibilities that earned them Isle of Wight Festival slots, “Julie Anne” pushes their sound into new psychological territory. It’s a testament to their growth that after months of refinement, they’ve created something that feels equally anthemic and unsettling. This quality will undoubtedly electrify their upcoming Strings Bar headline show.
5 Degrees North dial up the darkness on Julie Anne—a brooding, riff-fuelled descent into obsession that hits like Royal Blood in free fall.
