London’s ‘grit-pop’ five-piece Sweet Unrest make an explosive return with ‘Sometimes’, an emotive and high-octane single that perfectly captures the band’s signature mix of fragility and fire. Produced by Luke Burgoyne (Libertines, Louis Tomlinson, J Hus, Bastille, Declan McKenna), the track channels Sweet Unrest’s raw duality, a delicate balance of introspection and defiance that has quickly defined their rise.
Opening with tender acoustic introspection, ‘Sometimes’ builds into a heart-thumping, guitar-driven eruption. It’s a sonic journey that mirrors the emotional turbulence behind the song, a bittersweet meditation on loss that transforms into an anthem for life and love. Jack River’s rasped, impassioned vocal sits at the centre, surrounded by biting riffs, thundering drums, and a wave of cathartic energy that feels both nostalgic and strikingly modern.
“This song started about a breakup, but I abandoned it because I couldn’t figure out the rest,” River explains. “Then two of my mates died in the same week, and the rest of the song just fell out of me. After their deaths, I realised how I wanted to live: to love better. If I could do that, they wouldn’t have died for nothing.”
River describes the track as a kind of rebirth, grief giving way to celebration. “Though inspired by different events, the song deals with one feeling — accepting loss in any form and celebrating the memory of people who aren’t here anymore. It starts with an aching heart, and explodes into a celebration of joy and life. Every time we play it, I’m reminded that after sadness always comes joy.”
The song’s structure was born out of a happy accident. “When I first played it in rehearsal on acoustic guitar, Dan was setting up his kit and kicked in right after the first chorus — a moment of accidental perfection. We knew that had to be the structure,” River recalls. “Halfway through, a brooding acoustic song turned into something that made you want to dance and celebrate life — and suddenly it meant so much more.”
‘Sometimes’ captures Sweet Unrest’s distinctive sound — heartfelt yet heavy, vulnerable yet volatile. It’s a song that feels like standing in the eye of an emotional storm, an anthem for finding light through heartbreak.
Since forming in 2022, Sweet Unrest have carved a fierce reputation across the UK’s alt-rock scene. Their debut physical release hit No.12 on the UK Vinyl Chart, selling out at Rough Trade, while radio support from BBC Radio 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq cemented them as a rising force. The band have stormed stages at Hanwell Hootie, Lakefest, The Great Escape, Isle of Wight and Tramlines, and have shared bills with Carl Barât, Republica and The Vapors. Their sold-out Camden residency, Sweet Spot, has become one of the capital’s most talked-about live nights.
With over 260k Spotify streams and fresh off sessions at Abbey Road Studios, Sweet Unrest are no longer just a name on the watchlist – they’re a band defining their own lane in modern British rock. ‘Sometimes’ is both a statement of intent and a testament to the band’s emotional core: messy, human, and unflinchingly alive.
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