‘That’s how it felt to fall in love: a little, and then all at once.’ | Siobhán Winifred gives us a track-by-track breakdown of Don’t Do Well Alone

Don't Do Well Alone, Siobhán Winifred’s debut EP, combines indie-rock energy with introspective lyrics. It’s an unflinching reflection on mental health, love, and the highs and lows of life on the road.

by Harvey Solomon-Brady |
Siobhan Winifred -credit Chaz Rudd LANDSCAPE

Siobhán Winifred has always worn her heart on her sleeve, and with her debut EP Don’t Do Well Alone, the rising London-based singer-songwriter reveals the emotional depth and raw honesty that has endeared her to an ever-growing fanbase. Released on Chess Club Records, the EP finds Siobhán navigating themes of anxiety, love, and the complexities of human connection, all wrapped in her signature indie-rock sound.

From the soaring chorus of ‘Lungs’, a love song that feels like a breath of fresh air after years of struggle, to the vulnerable exploration of imposter syndrome on the title track, Siobhán’s songs are intimate yet universally relatable. Collaborating with Stevie Bill on the striking 'Killers’, she continues to demonstrate her ability to blend vulnerability with strength, offering a perspective that resonates with listeners across generations.

Already turning heads with sold-out headline shows and a standout performance supporting Stevie Nicks, Siobhán’s meteoric rise feels both inevitable and well-deserved. Don’t Do Well Alone is a powerful introduction to an artist unafraid to confront her demons and invite us along for the ride.

DONTDOWELLALONE EP ARTWORK(1)

Lungs

‘Lungs’ is a very special song to me as it’s the first love song I’ve ever released. After having a couple of really difficult years, I found someone who made me feel like I could breathe again, like they’d given me new lungs. I wanted to capture that feeling of finally breathing deeply in the chorus, so I love the way nearly everything cuts out and then comes back in with full force.

To me, that’s how it felt to fall in love: a little, and then all at once. The chorus has big indie-rock drums and guitars which makes it one of my favourite songs to play live.

Stay For Good

I wrote ‘Stay For Good’ a while ago, but the melody of the chorus and the lyrics of the bridge always stuck with me so I kept coming back to it. I was listening to a lot of Sam Fender (as I always am) around the time of writing ‘Stay For Good’ and I think you can hear that inspiration in the structure and production – as you probably can across most of my EP!

‘Stay For Good’ has a new meaning to me now and it completely belongs to my fans. I’ve gigged it a lot so they know all the words and it’s a favourite of theirs. And now, it’s about wanting them to stay for good.

Killers ft. Stevie Bill

I wrote the lyrics to the chorus of ‘Killers’ in my notes page not too long after someone treated me pretty awfully, though I never called them out on it. “Maybe you’re like those killers / who don’t know why they did it / just had the urge, had to indulge it”.

When I then released the song, I was anxious that no one would be able to relate to the slightly extreme comparison I’d made, but surprisingly, a lot of people did! It then made so much sense to have an artist feature on ‘Killers’ so we could hear another perspective on this all too well-known experience.

Stevie Bill is such a talented artist and I was so excited when she agreed to feature. We chatted via voice notes about the meaning behind the song before she sent me the verse she’d written. Her voice is so stunning and the lyrics are really thought-provoking. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.

Don’t Do Well Alone

‘Don’t Do Well Alone’ is about my struggles with anxiety and imposter syndrome – something I know I’m not alone in. I wrote it about the high I would feel on stage compared to the spiral I would get in after coming back home to an empty bedroom. I’d criticise myself and my performance and felt like I had no one to pull me out of it.

It’s one of the most vulnerable songs I’ve written, even discussing how I’d become so anxious I would throw up. I’m so grateful to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Sam Fender who have paved the way for me to feel like I can speak so candidly. I wanted the production to do the song justice and I absolutely love how it turned out. The ending is huge, with live trumpets, loads of vocal layers, and really punchy drums. I think it really captures how out of control you can feel when you’re spiralling on your own.

Keep Sweet

As soon as we’d finished making ‘Keep Sweet’, I knew it had to close the EP. I’m so proud of this song, and especially the way that it ends. It’s the best feeling when a song turns out exactly how you envisioned it. ‘Keep Sweet’ is about keeping sweet so you don’t unleash someone’s bad side. The first half of the song (where there are lyrics) is bordering on apathetic.

It was easier for me to be agreeable than face confrontation, and I would just switch off. But I realised I still had a lot of anger. The ending of the song is a perfectly messy concoction of sweetness and rage and nostalgia and release. It makes me feel everything. There’s live cello and screams in the background, while a choral plug-in sings ‘oohs’, and there’s so much for your ears to tune into. I think you can strongly hear my influences in this song, but it really does feel like me.

Photo credit: Chaz Rudd

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