W: Eloise Apple I: Freya Barber

The Rolling People have taken a leap out of the “one to watch” category and are beginning to look like genuine festival headliners, the kind you end up waving your phone torch to. Working with producer Rick McNamara, known for his work with bands such as Basht, they push their sound into something heavier. 'Outlier' carries a stronger emotional core, spanning themes of love, loss and even intrusive thoughts, adding a sense of weight that makes it feel more grounded and relatable within the indie scene

This shift in sound is immediate from the opening of the EP. 'State Of Things' and 'Your Take' arrive with driving drums, layered guitars and a sense of force as if the band are forcing themselves into a fully realised version of what they have been building towards. Each track deliberately moves away from the quick indie hooks and repeated riffs that often define the genre. By the time you reach 'Soldered Souls' the band have already lent further into this intensity, with moments that echo an almost Panic! At The Disco - esque theatrical edge.

However, as you reach the final tracks, the sound shifts from force to something more reflective, leaning further into the EP’s emotional core and its themes of vulnerability and fear. Instead of building and maintaining constant pressure throughout, the EP opens space for release and resolution, giving it more shape.

Overall, 'Outlier' marks a significant step forward for The Rolling People, moving them beyond the “one to watch” territory and into something that feels built for bigger stages, potentially even a Truck Festival headliner. The band have tightened into a more complete version of themselves with a clever sense of intent running through their sound. 'Outlier' is a record which will carry them well beyond the early hype.