Independent rock duo Scarlett Saint recently released their debut single, “Locked In This City,” an ultra-relatable alternative rock track that recounts the ebbs and flows in a relationship during the isolation of the latest lockdown crisis. As the song follows the breakdown of this relationship, it highlights the confusion and despair felt, but threads a feeling of hope for a better future by working together and trusting one another.
Scarlett Saint is fronted by Scotland-born artist Lois Edwards (Scarlett) and French guitarist Fabrice Jaslet. Both prolific songwriters individually, they met and formed the band just before the first lockdown and are committed to creating a hybrid of rock sound. Combining different influences and a mixed media approach with a focus on original songwriting, poetry, and art, which they hope their audience can connect to, Scarlett Saint is working towards an EP and album release coming out next year.
Pronounced guitar strums grab the attention of listeners early in the track before giving way to vocals that set the scene during which the track takes place – “British weather, you got me so gray / London town, every day is the same.” The separation in the relationship is made evident early on as well. Scarlett’s powerful vocals carry the feelings of isolation, monotony, and longing through the bridge, which is backed by an equally powerful guitar instrumental. Throughout the verses, Scarlett pulls in a more questioning tone that reflects the introspective nature of the track’s lyrics. She even questions “How do we win an invisible war?”, a question that is certainly on so many minds these days as we approach year 3 of COVID protocols. Yet the power and brightness within her vocals indicate that she remains hopeful, as we all do, for progress.