It won't take you long to stumble across Elvis comparisons in the comment section of Elliot James Reay's latest single, "Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin", and understandably so. Not only does he encapsulate a perfect 50s and 60s vibe in his music, his image and aura is almost a mirror of Presley, from the slicked back hair to the intonation of his vocal delivery. While Elvis hailed from Mississippi, Elliot is from Manchester, but the resemblance is nonetheless unavoidable. Rock 'n' roll is clearly where this single belongs in genre, however Reay's performance includes a slight country twang with vocal flips and riffs, which is hugely successful in modernising the track. The song even includes a spoken word middle eight, drawing in the listener and completely immersing them in Reay's musical world.
The song includes groovy basslines, call-and-response vocals and even some saxophone. The only way to enjoy the song further I imagine would be to witness it live with his full band. His music video is no less cinematic and shows off even more of Reay's talent as a dancer, as well as being cohesive in its use of colour scheme and aesthetic to really tie all aspects of his image and sound together. In the age of Gen Z's vintage renaissance in music, culture and fashion, Reay's rise to fame is happening at exactly the right time, as he attracts both older and younger audiences who are yearning for nostalgia.
Reay's new tune further leans into the young artist's loving embrace of '50s and '60s music, and follows March's "Daydreaming", a swooning single infused with cinematic grandeur and eerie longing. Before that came the upbeat and stylish "Boy In Love", with a video shot on the streets of his hometown, and the massive breakthrough "I Think They Call This Love", which enthralled millions around the globe with Reay's refreshing revival of a classic rock 'n' roll sound. For such a new artist, Reay has a strong and secure artist identity that stands him in good stead for the future. And, if his vocal performance is anything to go by, I think we should all be looking forward to catching one of his gigs in the future. He certainly has the sound of Elvis - perhaps he will soon acquire a similar legend status, too.
