Towards the end of 2025, singer songwriter Josaleigh Pollett released ‘Radio Player’, a complex track that took in various indie and electronica styles, along with other moods, to create a recording that felt as if it were always shifting. The fact that it never felt forced or unsettled was testament to some great hooks and a soaring vocal that contrasted the music’s more mechanical elements brilliantly.

By direct comparison, Josaleigh’s current single ‘The Witness’ – recorded with Crowd Shy – takes a safer approach. That said, it’s still a track that conveys a strong creative spark. The opening bars set a steady rhythm in place, and beneath some heavy beats, a droning sound hints at a love of old shoegaze records. Dropping into a melodic verse, the hard drum sound is offset by strummed guitar lines, but the real attraction comes via a soft vocal that makes the protagonist sound a little more vulnerable. Pollett uses a gentle delivery to allow their crying voice to glide over the sharper edged indie/electronica backdrop, and way before any of the lyrics make an impact, the contrast between the voice and music is really striking.

Then, there are the lyrics themselves. Never afraid of wearing their heart on their sleeve, Josaleigh explores feelings of following gut instincts rather than “following the map” of expectation, of making new connections, and the need “to be seen, heard and understood”, with tones that implore and question, even at times when the narrative could’ve called for something more forthright.

Everything combined results in a fine sounding indie rock workout that’s huge on melody, and perhaps even bigger on self-reflection. The sound of a wonderful and bold voice within the indie underground; ‘The Witness’ is certainly a number that – along with the brilliant ‘Radio Player’ – deserves to bring Josaleigh to a wider audience.

Check out the track below.