JW Paris: Anything
Anything — JW Paris Ignite Britpop Spirit with a Fierce Modern Edge
by Jack Rush
London’s own JW Paris return in explosive form with Anything, a blistering slice of alternative rock that channels the swagger of Britpop’s golden age through a sharp, contemporary lens. The trio—Gemma Clarke (Babyshambles, Adam Ant, Tuggawar), Danny Collins, and Aaron Forde—prove once again why they’re one of the most exciting forces in the UK’s alt-rock revival.
From the opening bars, Anything hits like a jolt of pure adrenaline. Spiralling guitars tear through the mix, driven by a pulsing bassline and Clarke’s thunderous drumming. The production strikes a perfect balance between polish and grit—slick enough for modern playlists, but raw enough to make your speakers shake. It’s the kind of energy that defined bands like Oasis, Blur, and Elastica, yet JW Paris inject their own urgency and cinematic flair.
Vocally, Danny Collins delivers a performance full of both defiance and vulnerability. His anthemic delivery commands attention as he navigates themes of identity, disillusionment, and longing. Lyrics like “I could be anything, but everything is nothing” and “If dreaming was a reality, then my nightmare would look a little bit like you” capture the restless search for meaning that defines a generation caught between ambition and burnout. The looping refrain of “around and around” mirrors that tension—equal parts youthful rush and existential fatigue.
Lyrically introspective yet musically rebellious, Anything is both a love letter to the ’90s and a bold step forward. There’s a shimmer of nostalgia, but it’s weaponized—propelling the song rather than trapping it in retro sentiment. Subtle synth layers add atmosphere without softening the bite of the guitars, and the result feels like a late-night drive through Soho with the city lights flickering off rain-soaked pavement.
The single marks the first release from JW Paris’s forthcoming 2025 EP, setting a confident tone for what’s to come. It follows the success of previous singles “Geeks & Freaks,” “Who Are You,” “Alive,” and “Royalty,” which collectively earned the band nearly 100k Spotify streams and support from Jack Saunders (BBC Radio 1), Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music), John Kennedy (Radio X), and Kerrie Cosh (BBC Introducing). Royalty even climbed to number 5 on the Amazing Radio Chart and kept its spot for seven weeks.
JW Paris have been praised for their “face-melting riffs” (Jack Saunders, BBC Radio 1) and for sounding like “Joy Division, where gritty meets swaggery” (Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 Music). Anything more than lives up to that reputation—it’s fiery, melodic, and emotionally charged, with the kind of anthemic spirit that could fill venues from Camden basements to festival stages.
Simply put, Anything isn’t just a throwback—it’s a torchbearer. A song for dreamers, drifters, and anyone still spinning “around and around” trying to find their place in the noise. JW Paris have lit the fuse, and Britpop’s flame has never burned brighter.
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