This Is The Deep Share 'Never Easy' Ahead Of Anticipated Debut Album

London collective This Is The Deep share their gliding new single 'Never Easy', offering a further glimpse into the surreal, emotionally rich world of their anticipated debut album, Everything (Dick Herman, The Whale, and The End of the Beginning), due via 5dB Records.

Drawing on the emotional turmoil and pop classicism of Carole King’s Tapestry era, alongside the melancholic string arrangements of Elbow, 'Never Easy' balances playful instrumentation with a quietly affecting sense of heartbreak. Bubbling fuzz and swelling wah-wah guitar tones conjure the spirit of a lost Hot Chocolate deep cut, while the collective’s experimental instincts and indie sensibilities bring an unpredictable edge to its melodic warmth. The result is a whimsical yet emotionally sincere offering that hints at the breadth of the band’s sonic palette.

Featuring dual vocals from Hannah Tilson, vocalist and trombonist, and Ranny Macdonald, the track unfolds with an intimate, conversational quality. Its easy-going musicality contrasts with the emotional exhaustion at the heart of the song, capturing the circular conversations and fading understanding of a relationship that has reached an impasse.

The band explain: “Never Easy is a song about a relationship between two people that isn’t working. It’s a story where both sides feel like they’re going round in circles and are so exhausted they’re losing the thread of what exactly they even mean. In the context of our concept album this is a dream vienette, a flashback to our protagonist’s past”

Within the wider narrative of Everything (Dick Herman, The Whale, and The End of the Beginning), 'Never Easy' serves as a dreamlike flashback, placing an intimate relationship against the album’s increasingly surreal backdrop. Rather than approaching its concept through a straightforward narrative, This Is The Deep weave personal memories and emotional uncertainties into a larger fable exploring perception, desire, consumption and escape.

Self-produced, with additional production from SHOLTO and Patrick Fitzroy, known for their work with Katy J Pearson and Sorry, the forthcoming album brings together instinctive indie immediacy and expansive, cinematic art-rock. Moving between orchestral folk, chamber-pop, psychedelic pop and adventurous art-rock, the record draws on influences ranging from the orchestral ambition of the Beach Boys’ Smile era to the chamber intensity of Black Country, New Road, the theatrical decadence of Roxy Music and the experimental pop sensibilities of The Beatles.

Formed by visual artist and musician Ranny Macdonald, This Is The Deep operate at the intersection of music, art and theatre. Bringing together musicians from across the UK, Brazil and Japan, the collective combine melodic songwriting with bold experimentation, creating richly layered compositions that reflect the adventurous spirit of London’s contemporary art-folk underground.

Their creative world extends beyond the music itself, incorporating painted sets, animation, theatrical storytelling and surreal visual design. Inspired by the imaginative universes of Terry Gilliam, Studio Ghibli and The Mighty Boosh, the band’s live performances transform the album’s mythology into an immersive spectacle, complete with inflatable whale costumes, belly-of-the-beast stage designs, dancers and rafts. Blurring the boundaries between concert and performance art, the collective build an experience in which sound, image and narrative become inseparable.

With previous support from BBC Radio 6 Music and Radio X, This Is The Deep continue to build momentum with their distinctive approach to music and performance. Their combination of intricate songwriting, ambitious visual storytelling and theatrical live shows sets them apart within the UK’s alternative music landscape. 'Never Easy' captures the emotional nuance at the heart of their approach, pairing an inviting, retro-tinged sound with the complexities of a relationship coming undone. As anticipation builds for Everything (Dick Herman, The Whale, and The End of the Beginning), the single offers another entry point into the collective’s curious, immersive universe, where melodic warmth, surreal storytelling and bittersweet human truths coexist.