The Rolling People: Outliers in Sound, Not Just Name

Manchester's inspired indie rock four-piece The Rolling People have graced our ears with their latest EP, Outlier.

The Rolling People have been on my radar for a while now, and they are genuinely making music with a unique style within the British Rock scene. Outlier is a testament to this. 6 tracks that don't just seem thrown together for a quick release, each track is built with diligence and precise craftsmanship, injected with driving rock elements. It's not just noise. Outlier proves the band's ability to produce engaging rock anthems, built to be played in stadiums. Furthermore, Embrace's Richard McNamara produced the EP, contributing the striking energy that Embrace have infamously delivered to audiences since the 90s and that undoubtedly brought to this record.

The Rolling People comment.

“Outlier is our most expansive work yet, addressing meanings and narratives that we previously haven’t explored. We utilised sounds that pushed our creativity forward, working with our producer, Rick McNamara, who really encouraged us to get the best out of each track. The EP is a deeply introspective account of the struggles and emotional challenges that we each face in life. Each song on the EP represents a different emotion that people may think is a vulnerability; however, they are actually normal, with everyone going through them at some point in their lives. The themes span across love, loss, intrusive thoughts, fear and more, which are all relatable to the audience’s own experiences in their life.”

What stands out most about The Rolling People is the atmospheric nature of the tracks, a blend of clarity and power. The opening track 'State of Things' introduces the record with an immersive wall of guitars played off each other with a hypnotic drum beat. As the track progresses, it patiently shifts into a more reflective tone before picking back up and finishing with an understated, soaring guitar solo.

A deeper look into the track list uncovers 'Your Day', which was previously released as a single in mid-March, with 'A Crack In The Glass' releasing shortly after. 2 Tracks that are full of intent. Both tracks display The Rolling People's adept skill for producing fresh and purposeful rock music whilst remaining true to their own style.

In my opinion, the highlight of this EP lies within the lead single 'Soldered Souls', it builds you up in uplifting fashion, expertly constructs anticipation, and then suddenly drops you into an enthralling mix of punching drums and riveting guitars purposefully layered that cut directly through the heart of the track. A track that almost certainly will become a live anthem.

The EP's introspective quality and atmospheric diversity stand out. If you haven't listened to The Rolling People, immerse yourself and press play.

Listen to Outlier

Ellis Douglas
Editor, BritRock Heaven