Balancing Act – Tightropes and Limericks: A strong second step into the future

2024 has brought a huge leap forward for the four-piece indie-rock band, Balancing Act – from the incredibly warm reception of ‘She Plays the Theremin’ to their densely booked festival season playing Y Not, Truck Festival, Tramlines, and more. Now they are set to release their second EP, ‘Tightropes and Limericks’, on October 4th!

‘Tightropes and Limericks’ marks the start of a new era for the band, with their upcoming EP being home to more fast-paced, feel-good indie-rock songs. This marks a progression in sound from their debut EP ‘Malice In Tone’, and subsequent singles ‘Before I Shoot’ and ‘Chesire Smile’, where the band reveled in a much gloomier vibe – think Inhaler with darker clothes and a little more swagger.

The first single of their sophomore EP, ‘She Plays the Theremin’, has all the elements of a classic indie banger, with its infectious riff, lively drum beats, and catchy lyrics about a dysfunctional infatuation. Second single, ‘Laylow’, penned on a writing trip to the French Alps, is similarly bright and lively, but with a sense of nostalgia provided by distant and twangy guitars that accompany the lyrics that express a longing for the past: ‘You’re looking better than you ever did / I wish you were mine now’.

Balancing Act’s new EP is a showcase of their ability with their song ‘Under The Table’, which blends indie-rock with trip-hop and elements of post-punk. It’s slower and more sinister than their other songs with it’s inclusion of heavy bass and frontman, Kai Roberts’, quieter, foreboding vocals being assisted by menacing backing vocals and howling guitars. 

The EP wraps up with ‘AWOL’, the most touching song on the EP, with Roberts’ vocals at their most impassioned. Listeners will be sure to find out why the band previously revealed that it’s their most personal song lyrically as well as the one that they are most excited to play live. You can find dates for the band’s imminent autumn tour below, as 2024 continues to be a busy year for Balancing Act.

Words by Emma Harrison