Following their previous release ‘Wait For Spring’, indie duo Tora Luna return with the soulful ‘Why Wouldn’t You Say So?’ on February 14th.
Drawing from the soulful harmonies of Motown and the raw energy of contemporary indie rock, ‘Why Wouldn’t You Say So?’ unfolds as a powerful dialogue between guest vocalist Deslynn Smith and band member Dominic Johnson. The track, created by core members Alex Broadgate and Dominic Johnson, with contributions on piano from Ellie Parker, masterfully captures the unspoken tensions that simmer beneath the surface of modern relationships. Through interweaving vocals and carefully crafted instrumentation, the performance embodies the push and pull of unexpressed emotions, creating a narrative that resonates with anyone who’s ever struggled to voice their feelings.
“We wanted to create a conversational tone through the use of two vocalists to echo the internal thoughts of each individual and their growing frustration with each other,” shares Parker. This intimate approach extends beyond the vocals into the very fabric of the recording process. “Although difficult, I found playing without a click-track to be a more relaxing style of recording and, in hindsight, felt that this helped the song feel more conversational.”
Nestled in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, producer Gus White‘s converted barn studio provided the perfect setting for bringing this vision to life. The track blossomed from humble beginnings – “a chirpy, simplistic chord progression” tucked away in Alex’s voice notes – into a rich tapestry of sound. The accomplished ensemble features guest musicians including Parker’s emotive piano work, guest musician Chloë Meade‘s soaring violin, Edward Cross‘s soulful saxophone, and Gus White’s intuitive drumming, all weaving seamlessly around the powerful vocal interplay between Smith and Johnson.
“We had been discussing our desire to write something that had a classic, soulful sound with plenty of call and response in the vocals, much like the iconic hits by girl groups in the 60’s,” Johnson explains, citing the timeless ‘Please Mr. Postman’ as a key reference point during their creative sessions. By recording without a click track, the band allowed the song to breathe and flow naturally, capturing both the warmth of vintage soul and the organic authenticity of live performance.
At its core, Tora Luna is the creative partnership of Alex Broadgate and Dominic Johnson – a duo that approaches music as a collaborative canvas. Rather than a traditional band, they view their project as a fluid musical collective where talented musicians drift in and out, each leaving their unique imprint. As the duo notes, “The main idea behind the Tora Luna project is that it’s collaborative and everyone feels like they can bring their own voice and influence wherever involved.”
This approach allows Tora Luna to shape-shift across musical landscapes. One track might emerge drenched in shimmering jangle pop, while another dives deep into surf rock’s reverb-soaked waters, only to resurface with chamber pop orchestration. It’s this deliberate genre-hopping that makes their music feel like stumbling into a secret party where Alternative Rock slow dances with Beach Boys harmonies.
‘Why Wouldn’t You Say So?’ is available across all streaming platforms from February 14th.
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