GENRE; Alt Rock Pop/ Indie (Melodic Pop Rock)/ Singer-Songwriter Band/ Americana 

RELEASE DATE; 02 October, 2026

RATING; 4.1/5

Melinda Joy’s “Deadly” is all about the relationship between endings and new beginnings. It’s a very thoughtful piece of writing which manages to be quite haunting at the same time as it’s full of a surprising amount of hope. It’s built around the line “It’s been a little deadly in my dream” and takes you into a very reflective space where the creepy nature of dreams is juxtaposed with the notion of new beginnings. The core idea is “all things must end / so they can then begin” which gives the piece a very philosophical slant and suggests that change isn’t just something we have to go through, it’s absolutely essential to the process of moving on.

Bright, dreamy textures provide a nice contrast to the weight of the subject matter. There’s a very gentle syncopated bass line which provides the rhythmic bedrock and a series of rolling piano phrases which add movement and warmth to the arrangement. The electric guitar and drums add further depth without in any way detracting from the song’s overall contemplative nature. Rather than go completely in the direction of the darker imagery implied by the title, “Deadly” is an inviting piece and the more reassuring message of the song comes through quite naturally.

Melinda’s silky vocal delivery lends a real sense of intimacy to the piece, the reflective writing being carried with a real sense of expression. There’s a further layer of emotional depth provided by the gospel choir style harmonies from Son of Cormack, JT Martin and Harrison Dean which really give the refrain a fullness. The layered vocals add a real sense of community which works perfectly with the song’s themes of endings, of change and of the possibility of starting again. Recorded in both Austin and London the various elements are brought together in a very cohesive arrangement.

“Deadly” works because of the contrast between the rather dark subject matter and the very uplifting musicality. It’s a jazz-pop piece with some lovely harmonies and a very catchy refrain which gives it a real identity. The message is one of contemplation rather than gloom and there’s a real sense of quiet reassurance in the way it looks at change. It’s a very listenable track which manages to find hope in the very notion of an ending.

MELINDAJOY.COM      FACEBOOK     SPOTIFY      YOUTUBE      INSTAGRAM     TIKTOK