By Olivia Bloore

The Edinburgh-based indie folk duo Quiet Houses, consisting of Hannah Elliot and Jamie Street, have released their latest single under LAB Records. ‘What My Heart Is For’ signals a distinct shift from indie-folk towards a more pop-rock, electronic sound.

The production of their previous EPs, such as ‘Big Town’ (2021) and ‘Since July’ (2023) favour an acoustic mix, with swelling dreamy folk choruses, which forefront Elliot’s unique vocals and poetic lyrics. However, ‘What My Heart Is For’ catapults us into a new era of Quiet Houses, with the track diving straight into a quick tempo and ethereal textures.

Rather than providing suspense with gradual acoustic builds to the choruses or outro, the duo instead create a full wash of sound from the outset, using overlapping, distorted guitar riffs within the hook. Yet, despite introducing a denser electronic production, Elliot’s vocals shine through the mix, maintaining a crisp, otherworldly quality whilst their technique remains versatile and strong. The double tracked panned vocals on the lyric hook ‘I’ve been wondering where my heart is’ creates the illusion of a worried voice in the back of the mind of someone in their early 20s, desperately trying to figure out life. 

The duo have struck gold with their use of an up-tempo, major melody, combined with vulnerable, melancholic lyrics. No better is this juxtaposition heard than in the chorus when Elliot sings ‘I’m terrified’, and that they are ‘reaching out for something’, encapsulating the highs and lows of being a young person chasing a dream. 

‘What My Heart Is For’ leaves us simultaneously dancing around our room and embracing the chaos of life in a time of uncertainty.