A Pop-Rock Single From Dirty Jeans Comes Through With A Youthful Aesthetic
- BuzzSlayers
- 2 minutes ago
- 8 min read
A new single from Dirty Jeans just dropped, and the song is bursting with personality and this warm, youthful sentiment that sort of cries out, and it's something that is so incredibly spirited that it sort of charges you up and gives you energy.
This is a song that feels almost anthemic as it beckons that yearning for that big thing you want. It can be considered just a want for more in general, but when I listen to the song, it feels like something that almost tells you to follow your dreams.
It really is so warm, and it's tonality but coated in this wonderfully colorful pop approach, along with the rock back bow.
Obviously, anyone would simply call this a pop-rock single, which it absolutely is, but it's got a very particular kind of brightness behind it that is borderline inspirational, and I feel like that adds a bit of elegance to the song in a strange way.
The track is called "Lipstick", and, to me, when I listen to it, I am definitely hearing some classic pop-rock influences. Not just current ones, but ones from the 80s and 90s as well.
This comes especially with some of the guitar work because the guitar really adds a lot of that brightness as well.
I love how they are layered and how, somehow, they add a certain kind of vastness in the song's underbelly that sticks.
It's definitely upbeat and has a bit of edginess to it, but in a very radio-friendly way.
Some great time signatures in between those verses, and a punch, and all the guitar tones have a crossover between clean and crisp, but with a little bit of edginess to them as well.
You can tell a lot of thought went into the tones of the guitar so that the track will come across exactly how it was meant to.
You also have some great guitar hooks in there as well. This is something I've missed for quite a long time when it comes to almost any kind of music.
The track has a great chorus, but I love those guitar hooks because they're classic, and for some reason, in a lot of rock music lately, instrumental hooks have been amiss.
They are just gone. I don't understand why that is, but I love how this project is bringing it back in a big way.
The song has a very natural and forward-moving flow to it, and again, that spaciousness and its undertone add a bit of a cinematic feel to it as well.
It's also because it's emotional. Some of the cinematic push comes from the emotional aspect of the lyrics. They're not overly emotional, but again, more inspirational, and they give you a fire in your belly.
If you forgot your fire, this is the kind of song that relates to it. You remember that you have dreams and that you do want more, and then it's okay. These are the things that can be a major drive in life. A lot of times, we forget about that because we're too busy in our day-to-day lives.
That's why the song feels youthful to me. It's got that young person sort of drive. That yearning is there right on its surface, and you can feel it in your bones when you listen to the song.
Now, of course, the song comes across with a very relationship-based approach.
On its surface, it's about a relationship, or one person wants more than the other. It's something that is completely relatable and definitely connective for just about anyone.
You want that person for more than a friend, but that person doesn't feel the same.
It's a classic scenario.
So, when you listen to the song, it's put in terms of a relationship, but as the song unfolds, you hear plenty of lines that apply to general life and just wanting more out of it.
Whether it's relationship-based or not, the sentiment for me was loud and clear.
When it comes down to it, the way someone interprets the song will differ depending on who's listening.
But you can hear the yearning, the want, the spirit, and that sort of brightness at the end of the tunnel that you're running towards, no matter what it may be.
The vocals are robust, also very pop-riddled with great hooks and melodies, and the energy level is absolutely perfect for the instrumentation.
The energy across this entire song is very well balanced, and it does come across with this exciting and electric aesthetic.
This was a track that really stands tall and absolutely comes across the way it was meant to.
It's fun, flavorful, danceable, and gives you plenty to chew on.
I think it's the personality that really matters here as well. It has loads of character behind it, and that's what helps us connect to the song well.
Upon listening to the song, I knew I wanted to have a sit-down with the man behind the project, Joey Hayward.
So, while you listen to this single, have a read through of our interview with Joey below and remember where you heard it all first.
Okay, let's jump right into "Lipstick"! This track captured a hint of 80's influenced pop-rock vibe but also felt fresh and cinematic, in a sense! Vibrant track! Where did this come from? What is it about exactly?
Answer: I’m so glad you enjoyed it! For me, this is partly what making music is all about; giving people a little escapism and get them letting their hair down.
I’ve found it really important with debut singles to show the world who you are and what you represent; in my case, it’s a culmination of all the music I grew up with. I found myself constantly chasing that feeling when you instantly click with a catchy song and find yourself hitting that repeat button over and over, so I wrote Lipstick with that feeling in mind. With the lyrics, I’m a big yearner so I drew from these feelings to portray something we can hopefully all relate to; wanting something more. Whether it’s for a person, a better life or for something smaller, it’s built into our human nature to yearn.
I am hearing a few different approaches to this song! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
Answer: I grew up during the era in the UK where the indie rock scene really exploded thanks to bands like Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Blossoms, The Wombats, ,Spector, The 1975, Sam Fender. This whole scene is still alive and thriving; it just needs to be pushed further back into the limelight. Djo is also another massive but more recent influence for me since watching his set at Glastonbury last year, Joe Keery’s influences with vintage synths making me realise that the music my parents brought me up on was actually incredibly cool (much to my rebellious teenage self’s annoyance).
Did you record this at a big studio or a home DAW?
Answer: I recorded the demo on Logic Pro X in my bedroom straight after I got home from Glastonbury 2025, then headed to Egypt Lane Studios near Slough in the UK to record the full song with my producer Jake Robbins, who brilliantly produced for a band I was previously involved with called The Mezz. I’d fleshed out as much of the song as I possibly could with the demo to hit the ground running with the studio session, making it more of a “we have all of these instrument/vocal/harmonic ideas, let’s subtract what we don’t need” rather than a case of thinking of new additions to the process. It’s always my go-to process to make the most of a studio session and not waste time in there. Efficiency is key when you’re on a time/money limit as a new artist!
How did this all start for you as an artist? What made you want to do this?
Answer: I’d always wanted to be on stage with a guitar, since getting my degree in Music Production gave me a taste of studio spaces and stage experience. my home town is a bit of a cultural void when it comes to musicians so it took until the covid lockdown of 2020 for me to actually start a band. We were called Heals and once the lockdown was lifted, gave me my first proper taste of that musician/touring/gigging late night life. After that I was lucky enough to be invited to play guitar for The Mezz with whom I played the biggest gigs I’ve ever done. When it all ended I yearned for more, to top that feeling of me playing a sold out O2 Academy. Dirty Jeans is the next step in my journey to chase (and hopefully surpass) this feeling.
What are you performing on the track? Did you hook up with a producer for this?
Lipstick is performed by myself on guitar, vocals, synth and bass; then luckily my good friend Jonny Edwards is one of the best drummers I’ve ever met and gave Lipstick the driving rhythm it needed.
Are you currently playing live shows, or getting ready to?
I don’t have a band together to play live shows just yet, but as soon as I find the people for it I’ll be getting myself out these as much as I can. My goal is to play some outdoor festivals in the sun and just enjoy the atmosphere
What would you say people can expect from this single?
You can expect nostalgic synths, catchy guitar hooks and an urge to let loose and have a dance. Isn’t that what listening to catchy bangers is all about?
What's next? Are you already working on more releases?
I’m still writing music, alongside a few side projects I have going on and also being in full-time employment. It’s an uphill battle to make music when you aren’t blessed with nepotism however that struggle creates the hardiest of musicians and I love to make music as a working class person in the UK, it’s like our own little community of professionals all in the same boat. The end goal is to play huge festivals like Glastonbury and Lipstick is just one step in the huge journey to that destination. There’s many more steps to come and I’m so excited to get to those places as I am to share this one with the world
You are really doing well! What kind of advice would you have for any other up and coming artists out there trying to get heard?
Thank you! Honestly my best advice would be to just get yourself out there - make friends and make yourself a network, there’s so many brilliant people in the music industry to connect with especially in the grassroots music scene. Try to say yes to every opportunity to perform and collaborate with people because it all counts as experience and opportunity to build your network of industry mates. I’ve met some of the best people I know through doing this and made some incredible friends along the way, and that’s coming from an artists whose journey is only just properly starting.
Before we go, what would you want to express to fans of the music?
First of all, I express my gratitude to people who actually took the time to try something new and consume a new piece of media from someone who they frankly won’t know yet; it’s becoming more of a rare occurrence in a world where people crave the instant gratification of familiarity. Thank you everyone who has listened! If you like this one, stick around and bide your time because there’s much more to come from me!
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