For those of you who read the fascinating interview between our Lorraine and Dionne recently, linked at the end of this review, then the arrival of “When Sky Falls” will not be a surprise.
The single was released July 17 so is out on all platforms now.
Dionne says of the single:
“I love a challenge! In the hurdles I face right now, I’m reminded of previous lessons learned. When things don’t work out the way I hoped, so far in life somehow I’ve always seen that beauty and new opportunity has found its way through to me after some of my biggest setbacks. Sometimes I feel huge amounts of frustration. “When Sky Falls” feels cathartic every time I listen back. It’s the song I am most excited to perform live…”When Sky Falls reunites Dionne with Duncan Hamilton (production) and Dan Harfield (mastering), the team behind the shimmering sonics of I’d Be Yours. Together they harness Dionne’s rock sensibility and orchestral-touched arrangements into a widescreen indie epic that feels both intimate and arena-ready.
Listeners may recognize Dionne from the stages of Florence + The Machine, where she has lent her voice, violin, and guitar to spellbound crowds worldwide. Her acclaimed DIY EP Give Me Vogue (2023) hinted at what was to come; now, with When Sky Falls, Dionne plants her flag firmly as an artist to watch. The single is the second instalment of her forthcoming debut EP, slated for release this autumn.
My review:
Dionne gets her guitar and delivers a gutsy rock pop track. The rhythm throbs and the track has an infectious melody and chorus hook in this brash and confident track that is a must for commercial radio.
“Told you don’t blame me,
Oh you play that same damn game”
I like the bit of acid in the lyrics and I will note again the commercial hook from this number. There’s something both raw and polished about “When Sky Falls”—an emotional undercurrent that surges beneath its radio-ready sheen. Dionne commands, with a vocal that’s equal parts vulnerability and defiance. This is a track that belongs in your headphones, in your car, and echoing across summer festival stages with its blend of cinematic depth and rock edge.
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You can stream music by Dionne here
By Anna-Louise Burgess