Hello everyone, it’s your host Faithfulness from DULAXI, and today I’m delighted to be joined by The Pennydrops, the exciting indie rock project from York, United Kingdom, whose latest single, “Boundary,” was released on 29th May 2026.
Over the past year, The Pennydrops have steadily established themselves as one of York’s most intriguing emerging acts, crafting a sound that comfortably exists between indie folk, alternative rock, grunge, and harmony-driven songwriting. Their music resists easy categorization, instead embracing emotional honesty, carefully layered arrangements, and an instinct for allowing contrasting musical textures to coexist naturally. Their newest single, “Boundary,” continues that artistic direction while introducing listeners to another important stage in the band’s creative evolution.
Before we begin our conversation with The Pennydrops, here’s what you need to know about today’s featured project.
ABOUT THE PENNYDROPS
The Pennydrops began as a songwriting partnership between J.J. Chamberlain and Izzy Hartley, two musicians whose creative paths unexpectedly crossed at a local open mic night in York during late 2024. At the time, J.J. was already establishing himself as a solo artist, while Izzy had recently returned to York after university and was beginning to immerse herself in the city’s thriving music community. Although their meeting appeared accidental, a later conversation about songwriting quickly revealed a remarkable creative compatibility that neither expected.
Their mutual appreciation for thoughtful lyricism, layered storytelling, and emotionally honest songwriting soon led them into their first collaborative writing session. During an intensive weekend of writing, they completed “Nightblindness,” a song that immediately confirmed their instincts that they had discovered something creatively special together. Rather than approaching songwriting from opposing perspectives, both found themselves naturally building upon each other’s ideas, allowing melodies, lyrics, and arrangements to develop with surprising ease. That experience ultimately became the foundation upon which The Pennydrops was formed.
From the beginning, the project was never intended to remain confined within the expectations of a single genre. Drawing inspiration from artists who comfortably blur stylistic boundaries, The Pennydrops developed a sound that combines the warmth of indie folk with the grit of alternative rock, the emotional directness of grunge, and rich vocal harmonies that often soften even their most emotionally intense moments. Their songwriting values atmosphere just as much as melody, allowing musical dynamics to become an extension of the stories unfolding within each composition.
Their latest single, “Boundary,” released on 29th May 2026, represents another important milestone in that journey. Serving as the opening chapter of the band’s forthcoming four-track debut EP, the single explores the emotional complexity of having personal boundaries repeatedly crossed within a relationship. Rather than presenting that experience in a straightforward manner, the song transforms internal conflict into a layered musical conversation, pairing introspective lyricism with acoustic textures, grungy guitar work, and carefully constructed instrumental interplay that mirrors the emotional tension at the heart of the narrative.
For Izzy Hartley, the song also became something deeply personal. What initially appeared to be another collaborative writing session gradually revealed itself as something far more revealing. As the lyrics developed, they unexpectedly reflected emotions and frustrations that had not yet fully surfaced in her own understanding of a relationship she was experiencing at the time. Looking back, “Boundary” became what she has described as an emotional warning, capturing feelings long before she consciously recognized their significance. That unusual relationship between songwriting and self-discovery gives the record an authenticity that naturally resonates throughout both its lyrics and performance.
While “Boundary” retains the thoughtful songwriting that first introduced listeners to The Pennydrops, it also marks the band’s evolution beyond its original duo format. Following the addition of bassist Joe Griffiths and drummer Joshua Pulleyn, the group embraced a fuller live sound that quickly proved itself during their first full-band performances, including supporting Elsa Hewitt at The Fulford Arms in York. The chemistry between all four musicians became immediately apparent, prompting the band to bring that same collaborative energy into the recording sessions for their upcoming EP.
Producer Tom Hartley also played an important role in shaping the emotional character of the recording. During the vocal sessions, he introduced an unconventional exercise by asking Izzy to perform the lyrics as spoken dialogue before recording the final vocal takes. Although none of those spoken performances appear in the finished recording, the exercise allowed the emotional intensity of the song to emerge more naturally, giving the final vocal performance a heightened sense of vulnerability and conviction.
Beyond the recording studio, The Pennydrops have continued building momentum through live performances across both York and London, supporting touring artists while steadily introducing audiences to the distinctive chemistry that defines their performances. As anticipation builds for the release of their debut EP, “Boundary” not only establishes the emotional tone of the project but also demonstrates the confidence of a band continuing to refine its identity without sacrificing the sincerity that first brought its members together.
Having this brief introduction to today’s featured project, I’m sure both new listeners and longtime fans are excited to hear directly from The Pennydrops. So, without further ado, let’s begin today’s interview.
INTERVIEW SESSION
Faithfulness:
The Pennydrops came together after what sounds like a chance meeting at a local open mic night. Looking back now, what was it about that first conversation between you that made you realize there was genuine creative chemistry worth exploring?
The Pennydrops:
We were talking about our lyric writing process and we realised that we both are fans of wordplay, and that we both put a lot of meaning and energy into our lyrics. When we first wrote together we realised how similar our processes are, and we were developing a friendship simultaneously which really came across in that first song.
Faithfulness:
Before forming The Pennydrops, both of you were already developing your own musical identities. How have your individual experiences as songwriters shaped the unique voice that listeners now hear in the band?
The Pennydrops:
Izzy: He brings the rock, I bring the roll. It’s clear when you listen to our solo songs that we’ve written subsequently, since forming the band, because I’ve gotten a lot grungier and J.J’s songwriting has gained a more vulnerable edge. I have my signature three chord stab, but I’ve definitely started using more command words which is something that is a feature of J.J’s songs.
J.J: I first learnt to sing by voice blending with backing vocals and having heard Izzy’s vocal style a lot before we started writing, I realised this was a technique that would serve the sound of the band. My songs are stylistically very much from the rock world, and it’s true that Izzy has gotten a lot grungier since we started writing together, but the sound of The Pennydrops is designed to flip from moments of sonic frustration to soft and vulnerable reflections, and between us we both bring different versions of the same two essences.
Faithfulness:
Your music draws from a remarkably broad range of influences, blending folk, indie-rock, grunge, and harmony-driven songwriting. What attracts you to artists who refuse to stay within one genre, and how has that philosophy influenced your artistic journey?
The Pennydrops:
Izzy: I wouldn’t say that I’m specifically into artists that blend genres, I’d say that I have quite an eclectic taste in influences and I take influences across all of them. For me, if it’s good music, has a good melody and chord progression and it’s rhythmically interesting, it doesn’t matter what the genre is. The genre is just the icing on the cake, and for me I don’t actually care what the cake is like until I take a bite of it. If the cake it good, it’s good cake.
Faithfulness:
The story of writing “Nightblindness” during an intense weekend session feels like a defining moment. What do you remember most vividly about that experience, and how did it set the foundation for everything that followed?
The Pennydrops:
Izzy: “On the first night we worked on Nightblindness we took a break and went out, that night I met the man that Boundary is about. That’s what I remember. We’d written the chords and a bit of the guitar hook and the when we took a break, J.J came outside and sang “Nightblindness!” really high and it was an instant hook. We also showed each other some of our unheard songs and I think that created a vulnerable environment where we could open up around each other.
J.J:
I just remember how nice it was hearing our vocal tones together for the first time, especially in the soft parts of the song. That kicked us off into wanting more, which is why you have The Pennydrops now.
Faithfulness:
York has a rich and supportive music community. How has being part of that scene helped shape your growth as artists, both individually and collectively as The Pennydrops?
The Pennydrops:
Izzy: Everyone that we’re friends with have played a part. That’s how we’ve managed to put together the band. It’s formed the backbone of both of our lives currently.
J.J: York is the kind of place that inspires story writing. Its history is almost out of context compared to its night life, but the two things co-exist to form a strange but unique culture which can be inspiring to a songwriter or any creative.
Faithfulness:
“Boundary” explores the complicated emotional reality of having personal boundaries crossed within a relationship. What made this subject feel important enough to turn into a song, and how difficult was it to confront those emotions through writing?
The Pennydrops:
J.J: It started as most of our writing starts, with a conceptual idea. We began bouncing words off of each other after I’d shown Izzy the chords in the live room. Usually when we try and take a break, the wordplay starts. I noticed pretty early on that Izzy was very emotionally attached to some of the lines she was suggesting and so I realised that this would be one where I should step back and let her lead. Little did I know that our original concept had become a metaphor or portrayal of something she was actually going through at the time. I’m very pleased with my lyrical contributions on this one nonetheless, it takes a very understanding co-writer to allow me to include lines about cracking eggs.
Faithfulness:
Izzy, you described the song as almost an “emotional weather forecast,” where the lyrics revealed feelings before you consciously understood them. Can you take us deeper into that experience and explain what it taught you about your relationship with songwriting?
The Pennydrops:
Izzy:
I already knew this about how I wrote songs because I’ve done it before. I wrote a song a long time ago while I was in a relationship. It wasn’t about how the relationship was, however I came back to it and it described aspects of the relationship. Sometimes I wrote songs and they almost become premonitions. This song was a big-fat premonition, I was in a relationship, I didn’t really think there was anything wrong and then we started writing the song and the verse lyrics kept popping into my head because they were perfectly describing the frustration I was feeling within the relationship, that I was kind of in denial about at the time. Boundary was just slightly ahead of my realisation. But J.J knew! And very kindly didn’t point it out to me at the time.
Faithfulness:
One of the most fascinating aspects of Boundary is how the music mirrors the emotional tension of the lyrics. How intentional was the decision to use overlapping guitar parts, grungy textures, and dynamic shifts to reflect the conflict unfolding within the story?
The Pennydrops:
J.J: Very intentional! We always try to write the lyrics to match the verve of the music, or vice versa. Tom (producer) has a natural way of encouraging us to come up with ideas for overdubs and extra vocal parts but as songwriters, we both have a knack for making the best use of space in an arrangement. You’ll notice that in the later stage of the second verse there’s an additional guitar layer that’s been described as “the worm” because it wriggles its way in and gives the track a sudden lift. This part was suggested by Izzy who sang it note for note even though it’s my part. I have the ability on guitar to bring a melody to life and I love adding embellishments and techniques. This is how we work in the studio. It’s organic and we have an unspoken policy that underlines the fact that no idea is a bad idea.
Faithfulness:
You’ve cited artists like Wednesday, Hop Along, Pinegrove, and Jay Som as influences on this release. Were there any specific musical moments or production choices inspired by those artists that listeners might discover when they listen closely?
The Pennydrops:
With Wednesday it was the combination of Karl’s Hartzman’s vocal style and MJ Lenderman’s guitar playing that gave us a direct comparison, but it’s also the songwriting that bends the genres where they would otherwise be compartmentalised that attracted us to their music. That’s something we see in ourselves, the ability to write about something real, but to portray it with music that sometimes conflicts with the mood of the words. There was a particular Jay Som track called Peace Out that’s a very different arrangement to Boundary, but it features a particular guitar effect that we felt would be perfect for the guitar sound in the verses. It carries the same tonal weight that we wanted to set the mood in Boundary. We made reference playlists for each track on the EP and there were several influences that we used to really drive the production of this track to where we felt it should be. Maybe we’ll share a compilation reference playlist once the EP is out.
Faithfulness:
Unlike the sprawling structure of Nightblindness, Boundary embraces a tighter and more traditional song format. What creative challenges came with writing something more concise while still preserving the emotional depth and complexity that define your work?
The Pennydrops:
J.J: I came up with the chords and riff for the verses separately, and brought this into a writing session with Izzy, so it was a completely different writing process to Nightblindness which was written in a kind of lock-in, line for line method. With Boundary we came up with the music and Izzy sounded out where she felt the vocal melody should go, and we took one of our garden breaks where we throw words and rhymes at each other until we fall upon phrases that fit the mood. The writing process came without much of a challenge, it as completed in a single evening and we then played it live as a duo the following week at an open mic. It was very natural all the way because we got into a flow state really early with it.
Faithfulness:
The recurring guitar hook in Boundary almost feels like another voice in the conversation, interrupting and dismissing points being made. When did you realize that this musical element could become such a powerful storytelling device within the song?
The Pennydrops:
J.J: It’s Izzy’s famous three chord stab. After she came up with it, we realised that the repeated hook was symbolic of the ‘boundary’ between the two people in the story, which is why we unapologetically drop it throughout the song.
Faithfulness:
The bridge strips away much of the noise and reveals a more vulnerable emotional core beneath the anger. Why was it important to create that moment of stillness, and what does that section represent within the overall narrative of the track?
The Pennydrops:
J.J: We love the loud/quiet dynamic. It builds the momentum for a big finish and you’ll hear in our future releases that we also like to use it unconventionally. Izzy wrote some words which fit beautifully to the section that we’d musically composed together, and I think the lyrics perfectly describe what she couldn’t yet accept that she was going through emotionally. It’s important to the song because it stops being angry at this point and is more of a resignation to the fact that things aren’t working before killing everything off with a barnstorming double chorus. The quiet makes the loud hit even harder.
Faithfulness:
Tom described having Izzy perform spoken versions of the lyrics like movie dialogue before recording the final vocals. How did that unusual studio exercise change the emotional delivery of the song, and were there any unexpected discoveries that came from the process?
The Pennydrops:
Izzy:
It was intense. I was having a one sided argument and I got so angry that I was nearly crying. It was in March which was weird because I wasn’t angry about that relationship any more but doing this monologue thing made me get so mad. I was genuinely feeling all of the words I was saying, and then when we went back and did the vocal takes I was so emotional when I sang them. He came up with the idea because in the verses I was trying this low range spoken word to get in the mood and this was where Tom as the producer became more like a director. In the takes the rage was there and I don’t know if it comes across, I don’t hear it every time but I think as a listener you feel it more when you hear the song now.
Faithfulness:
Boundary serves as the opening chapter of your upcoming four track EP. Without giving too much away, how does this song set the emotional and musical tone for the journey listeners will experience across the full project?
The Pennydrops:
Izzy: It kicks it off with anger. There’s anger and angst in all the songs. It starts it off with a bang. The second song will be a drop musically, it’s a bit more introspective and by the end you’ll have an ending which becomes analytical about the world that we currently live in. We start by zooming into our minds and then we zoom out again to give listeners the bigger picture.
Faithfulness:
As you celebrate the release of Boundary, expand your live performances, and prepare to share the complete EP with the world, what do you hope listeners ultimately take away from this new chapter of The Pennydrops’ story?
The Pennydrops:
Izzy: That we’re a really good band. And also, I hope this EP makes people think more about other people’s feelings and less about yourself. Stop saying sorry and start asking why.
“Boundary captures the rare moment when a song becomes more than an expression of emotion and transforms into a record of personal discovery. Through its fearless honesty, layered songwriting, and the story behind its creation, The Pennydrops reveal how music can uncover truths before we are fully ready to face them.”
~ Faithfulness (DULAXI Team)
MY EDITORIAL PERSPECTIVE
Boundary presents The Pennydrops as a band unafraid to explore emotional complexity through contrast. The combination of intricate guitar arrangements, expressive vocal performances, and thoughtful songwriting creates a space where tension and vulnerability exist together. Beyond its musical identity, the release highlights the creative connection between J.J. Chamberlain and Izzy Hartley, showcasing a songwriting partnership built on honesty, experimentation, and instinctive collaboration.
~ Faithfulness (DULAXI Team)
CLOSING
It has been a pleasure speaking with The Pennydrops and exploring the story, creativity, and emotional journey behind Boundary. Thank you for sharing the experiences, inspirations, and personal reflections that shaped this release.
For listeners discovering The Pennydrops for the first time, Boundary offers an opportunity to experience a band embracing honesty, experimentation, and the unpredictable nature of songwriting. Through their blend of indie rock, folk influences, and grunge inspired textures, the band continues to build a distinctive identity that reflects both their individual voices and their shared creative vision.
We encourage everyone to experience Boundary and follow The Pennydrops as they continue their journey with their upcoming EP and future releases.
Thank you for spending time with DULAXI. We look forward to bringing you more conversations with artists from around the world and sharing the stories behind the music that continues to inspire listeners everywhere.