Photo credit Calum Gibbs.
August is always our quietest month here at the magazine. It is holiday season and, with Blue (the cat) often left in charge of the office due to a lack of staff, our general response time tends to wobble a little! However, a few interesting things always come along, and this is one of them.
While we do continue to feature and review some major legacy artists, our principal role is bringing great up-and-coming artists to our readers’ attention. This is one of those occasions when I came across a band and reached out to them (as opposed to the other way round, which is more usual). You see, in my physical record collection you will find The Bangles, that great girl band of the 80s. When I heard a song called “November” by a new band called The Marches, it took me back, and I went out to get this interview for our readers. So what you have here is my interview with Nicola Singleton and Jane Jenkins from The Marches, followed by a review of their new single “Struck to the Heart” and a couple of older tracks.
The Marches are:
Katie Palmer (Vocalist, Rhythm Guitar)
Nicola Singleton (Bass)
Jane Jenkins (Lead Guitar)
Kate Morrow (Drums)
Press Release:
The Marches erupted onto Scotland’s music scene in 2024 with a sound that marries raw vulnerability, melodic ambition, and a sharp lyrical edge. Early singles In Comes The Fear and Talking Too Much earned BBC Radio Scotland support and quickly established the Glasgow four‐piece as a rising force. Their momentum accelerated through 2025 with festival appearances at Pavilion Festival, Prestfest, and Belladrum, alongside a run of sold‐out headline shows.
Their Double A‐Side release (November / Don’t Fool Me Twice) showcased a band in evolution, earning international premieres, national radio praise, and a sold‐out vinyl launch. In 2026, the acoustic single “She” revealed a new dimension to their sound, receiving early support from BBC Introducing Scotland, Amazing Radio UK, and Amazing Radio US. This October, The Marches return with “Faultline,” a bold and emotionally charged EP exploring the fractures that shape us. With its blend of atmospheric restraint and explosive release, “Faultline” marks the band’s most ambitious work to date, ahead of their hometown headline at The Garage Attic on 14 November 2026.
Our Interview:
Your new single “Struck To The Heart” has this wonderful balance between shimmering guitar pop and something altogether darker lurking beneath the surface. Was that contrast always part of the song from the beginning, or did it evolve naturally as you worked on it together?
The Marches: Definitely. Struck to the Heart is a conflicting song in many ways. It revolves around a relationship that is exciting and intense but also turbulent and dangerous. This conflict was something we wanted to emulate with the instrumental tones as well. We wanted to strike the balance between lighter guitar strums in the verses and a rockier chorus where the bass line and drums really come in strong. Our new songs, in general, are our rockiest yet, and we can’t wait to share them with everyone.
I discovered November on Spotify before hearing the new single, and I have to admit it’s still my favourite Marches track. It deals with the end of a relationship and those “November thoughts”, yet musically it feels surprisingly light, uplifting and wonderfully radio-friendly. It reminded me a little of the melodic guitar pop of bands like The Bangles. Looking back now, what does November mean to you? Is it a special song for you all too?
The Marches: We love that it reminds you of The Bangles! They were definitely a big influence for us in our earlier days as a band. “November” was one of the first songs all four of us rehearsed in the room together, so it definitely is a special song for us all. Just before recording our double A-side we were ready to move on to our rockier sound, highlighted in “Don’t Fool Me Twice”, but we wanted a song to bookend the earlier days of The Marches, and “November” was the perfect song to do this with.
Your songs seem to walk a fine line between deeply personal emotions and lyrics that listeners can easily make their own. When you’re writing, do you begin with a real experience, or do songs often grow from fictional stories and imagined situations?
The Marches: A mixture of both! With the EP we wanted the storyline to unfold with each song, and an overall feeling to be shared between them. Each individual song on the EP came about differently, then we all tweaked and worked on them to unify the songs into the story that is told in our EP.
Scotland has always punched above its weight when it comes to producing memorable bands. How important has the Glasgow music scene been in shaping The Marches, and are there any local artists you think deserve a much wider audience (we know Robyn Red, the country singer who is very active in the Glasgow country scene)?
The Marches: We wouldn’t be making this EP if it wasn’t for the Glasgow music scene! Our first ever gig was at King Tut’s on the same day we released our first single, In Comes the Fear. It was a bold decision for us, not only to release a song on the same day as our first ever gig, but also to have our first ever gig be King Tut’s! But we knew the Glasgow music scene wouldn’t let us down. And sure enough it didn’t; we ended up selling out! We have never had a bad gig in Glasgow. There’s so many amazing artists that we’ve had the pleasure of playing alongside. It would be hard to name just a few!
One thing that really stands out is the combination of strong melodies, layered harmonies and guitar-driven arrangements. If each member of The Marches could invite one artist—past or present—into the rehearsal room for a day, who would it be, and why?
Jane: I’d probably say Carole King. I’d love to see the way she writes a song. However, if it was for guitar inspiration then definitely Jimmy Page!
Nic: It would probably be David Bowie for me. I love how his music makes me feel, and I think a lot of the time when we are in a room, we really get a gut feeling about melodies, lyrics and the song as a whole. I think having his perspective would be so exciting.
It is a hard winter’s night. The tour van has broken down and a harsh wind blows through the darkness. Nearby you discover what appears to be an abandoned house. There is a roaring fire, a table laid with hot food, electricity still works… and somehow nobody is there.
While you wait for morning, what one book and what one film would keep you entertained through the night, and why?
Jane: Film, probably Practical Magic. Book… The Five People You Meet in Heaven, because that’s what I’m reading right now!
Nic: I think if I found myself in an abandoned house and in that situation I’d need something that made me feel comforted! The overall vibe of Last Night in Soho does that for me—even though it’s got a bit of a twisted ending! My favourite book is probably The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Review:
“Struck to the Heart”, released on August 7, 2026, is a smoky, grungy number with a strong chorus. It is a song that rewards careful listening, allowing the guitar work, structure and layered vocals to reveal themselves. I played it back-to-back for review because I needed the second listen to get a proper handle on it. It’s adventurous, dynamic and confidently put together.
“November”, which I refer to in the interview, is much more Bangles. It is lighter, more indie-pop and has a wonderfully sing-along quality. The song has an effortless summer radio feel, a track for relaxing with someone special, and one for the forever young.
“Come Back Around” plays with a guitar sound that is a little more funky, bringing to mind the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It delivers a driving song with swirling riffs that make it impossible not to move along with the beat. It is noticeably heavier than the other two tracks here and demonstrates the diversity within the band’s sound.
“Talking Too Much” is a great song for that late-night drink. It has a catchy hook in the chorus and is a fun piece of indie-pop rock. I particularly liked the heartbeat the drums provide, while the vocals remain strong throughout. I will also note the crisp production across all the tracks I listened to, allowing the music to breathe. Together, these four songs provide an excellent introduction to what The Marches are all about.
There is a confidence running through these songs that suggests The Marches are no longer simply finding their feet—they are beginning to carve out an identity of their own. There are echoes of classic guitar pop, certainly, but also a willingness to push towards something heavier and more adventurous. If “Faultline” builds on the promise shown here, it could well be the release that takes them to a much wider audience. They are certainly a band we’ll be keeping a close eye on here at Rock the Joint Magazine.
If this feature struck a chord, why not explore more of what we do? From exclusive interviews to reviews, editorials, poetry, and our own merch—there’s plenty to discover. We put a lot of heart into every piece, and if you’d like to show a little love in return, you can support us with a small donation via the Ko-Fi link below. Every coffee keeps us going—and helps keep the magazine free for all. Thank you!
Stream music from The Marches here
By Lorraine Foley
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