Tizane - 'Forever is Nothing'

Spotted while playing gigs and open mic events around her Southeast London base Tizane’s first release was the album “Cherry.” Released in 2021 and recorded when she was just 19 the album dealt with her struggles with various sources of anxiety and her ongoing recovery. Playing and writing most of the album herself “Cherry” is brooding and dark, but not without moments of pop brightness. Mostly using synthesizers and acoustic guitars it’s an album that would sit well besides the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Gary Numan, or Depeche Mode.

Jump forward two years and Tizane is ready to release her second album, “Forever Is Nothing.” In the in between years a solid fanbase has grown up with her. Solid gigging around London with regular appearances at venues such as the Fiddler’s Elbow and The Dublin Castle has made her an in-demand performer. Songs have dripped onto Spotify ahead of the album’s release too, garnering solid streaming figures. To say things have changed would be to undersell the difference between the two releases. While the lyrics still deal with similar themes the musical back drop has changed dramatically. Maybe that cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” on “Cherry” was giving us a hint of things to come.

“Forever Is Nothing” is a much more muscular beast. Synths have been pushed into the background and are used for atmosphere and effect. Loud electric guitars and driving drums are the order of the day now, though Tizane retains her ear for a catchy hook and the sensibility to keep songs from outstaying their welcome.

It’s not just the music that has taken a leap, production is also much better second time around with ex-Vibrators man Pat Collier on production and engineering duties. In interviews Tizane has spoken of the love of the studio and using it as a tool, or extra instrument. She mentions George Martin during an interview with New Sound Generation and cites his work with the Beatles as an example of what she means. Lofty ambitions, but if you’re going to dream, aim high, right?

So, what does Tizane 2023 sound like? The press release for the album refers to dark pop. While that makes sense from a marketing point of view it plays down just how heavy “Forever is Nothing” sounds at times. If challenged my reference points to give an idea of where it’s at would be Skunk Anansie, Paramore, Emo, hints of symphonic metal power. Lyrically I can hear echoes of Phoebe Bridgers, Kate Bush, The Blackheart Orchestra, Rush (yes, it’s slightly prog in places too.)

The album kicks off with “Off the Edge.” It comes in quietly, a jazzy/lounge feel that suggests we are still in soft musing of the singer/songwriter vein “Cherry” mined. Fifty seconds in the chorus blows that idea away. It’s big, loud brash and catchy. Very much leaning to the poppier end of the album and easy to see why it was picked as one of the tracks already released. The verses are carried along by drum and bass with the choruses coming in to lift the moment before the song noodles itself into the next track.

“Don’t tell me the end” is top notch. This is a standout track on the album. The guitars are right up there, and the track is driven along by some excellent riffing. The drumming on this track also stands out. I t has that slightly rock/reggae style much beloved of Stewart Copeland in the police and Neil Peart in Rush from time to time. It’s a song of the unbearable pain of losing someone close to you as they move away and how that takes part of yourself away with them. It ends with the aching heartbreak of Tizane alone singing “you told me the end.”

“When the Ravens Leave” follows. I think this might be the heaviest track on the album as Tizane likens the lose of someone to the ravens leaving the tower.

That brings us to “I’m not her.” This is the song that has caught the attention of wider media and managed to get airplay on several radio stations including Kerrang and Radio Two. It starts of gently, acoustic guitars, tracked vocals, bass guitar. Tizane turns the tale around here. Now instead of being the lost love she’s the girl who has replaced her partners lost love. It tracks the damage done to a relationship by knowing how your partner feels when they see her or hear her name spoken. As the song builds the drums come in along with a string backing (which might be synths). Riffing guitars join in mid-song and track builds to a climatic finale with guitars, a chorus of voices chanting “I’m not her,” and pounding drums. Finally, emotions spent, the song drops back to just Tizane’s vocal and guitars as she sings the chorus one last time, “but I’m not her, how could I be, I’m not her, she’s not me.” This is for me the best track on the album. All the elements that Tizane brings to the table combine here to perfection.

“Small World,” (no not the Disney tune) mines that drum sound again. It’s a more rock orientated song but it suffers from following “I’m not her.” It’s a good song but just feels a little all at sea here.

“Every Minute” is urgent and catchy and it perks things back up again. Lyrically it’s more of a love song than a lost love song. The urgency of the music is reflected in the lyrics detailing how Tizane can’t bear to waste a moment with her partner and because of that she’s “living in the here and now.”

“Who's Gonna Hurt Me Now” begins so closely on the heels of “Every Minute” it took me a moment to realise the track had changed! Another of the songs pre-released from the album and with a video to support it this is anthemic and infectious. The dark pop description in the press pack fits this track perfectly. Tizane has said in an interview with New Sound Generation that this song is “a big metaphor for my life. When the victim arrives at that place where the question ‘who’s gonna hurt me now?’ becomes more rhetorical and daring.” When metaphors sound this good, I wouldn’t want to argue with her.

“Running” rocks up behind “Who's Gonna Hurt Me Now.” There’s some lovely guitar work at the beginning and Tizane’s vocals are perfectly pitched to carry the track. It’s slower and heavier. The guitar solo at the end is epic but short.

Penultimate track “Why Not Me” has that rock/pop hybrid perfectly balanced, Avril Lavigne would kill for a track this good these days. Lyrically the title says it all. Tizane begs for honesty and truth from someone to tell her “Why not me.”

As “Why not me” fades the final, and title track, “Forever is nothing” begins with some gentle guitar picking and a delicately sung verse. It’s a quieter and more delicate song to finish the album.

I hadn’t heard of Tizane before this and to do it justice I started by going back and listening to “Cherry.” I liked “Cherry.” It has a quiet beauty but over the course an hour, seventeen songs, it did begin to lose it’s hold on me towards the end. “Forever is Nothing” is a much leaner affair, ten songs, forty minutes. It’s a captivating record full of dark corners where the light breaks in from time to time like it’s an old gothic castle. Tizane is a talented musician and has a great voice. Delicate or powerful she performs it all and shows off a great range to her voice. I look forward to her next steps.

“Forever is Nothing” is released on the 23rd of June 2023 through Burning Girl Records.

Tizane will be playing live on:

22nd June - Dublin Castle Camden ‘Forever Is Nothing' Album launch gig.

5th August - Priory Live Festival - Supporting Stereo MC's/Toploader/Dodgy

26th August - Herne Bay Firework Festival