Orange JeLy – This Is Me Trying! (Album Review)

This Is Me Trying! by Orange JeLy is a heartfelt and eclectic dive into the world of South London indie artist Steve Jenkins. It’s an album that feels like a scrapbook of sound and emotion, it’s intimate, rough around the edges in the best way, and deeply personal. Jenkins, who came to songwriting later in life during the COVID lockdown, brings a reflective, sincere energy to this project that you can feel in every track.

The album artwork, created by Jenkins himself, echoes this handmade ethos. A collage of moments and memories, photos, illustrations, and candid shots, it gives listeners a visual sense of the community and creativity surrounding the music. It’s not polished or flashy, but that’s exactly the point: it invites you in with honesty, not spectacle.

The album opens with “See You Again,” featuring Jenkins’ daughter Lois on vocals. Her voice is haunting and captivating from the first note, supported by a funky guitar line and atmospheric layering that builds gradually. The contrast between her high, ethereal voice and the deeper instrumentation creates an immediately engaging listen. The chorus soars, and the backing vocals add just enough harmony to deepen the emotional weight.

“Round and Around” shifts into a nostalgic 80s zone. The vocal delivery channels early Cure energy, while the guitar textures give it a dreamy, lo-fi feel. It’s a track for lying in bed, lost in thought. The guitar solo, though understated, is the glue that holds it together, closing the song with emotional resonance.

“Alone Boy” is one of the darker cuts, built around themes of loss and loneliness. The drums shine here as they provide momentum and pulse to a track that could otherwise sink into melancholy. The lyrics are catchy but border on over-repetition, which might be intentional given the cyclical, trapped-in-your-thoughts nature of the theme.

“Oh What A Way!” is a delightful pivot. Suddenly we’re in Beatles-meets-Beach-Boys territory with upbeat instrumentation and sunny melodies. It’s a testament to Jenkins’ ability to switch gears emotionally without losing coherence. The joy of exploring your city, the warmth of a new day; this song bursts with those feelings.

“Yellow Roses” is a standout moment vocally, thanks to Tanja Stanley. Her performance channels the power and mystique of classic rock heroines like Stevie Nicks. The juxtaposition between the title and the melancholic tone of the song gives it a quiet tension that lingers long after it ends.

“I Never Saw You Coming” is perhaps the album’s most immediate earworm. The guitar riff hooks you in from the first bar, and Jenkins’ vocals are confident and engaging. It’s a love song that doesn’t try to be overly clever, it just feels real. The rhyming, the structure, the simplicity all work in its favor. You can feel the joy behind the performance.

“My Friend Ray” starts with an intriguing sample, possibly a real speech or protest audio, that sets a contemplative, almost ominous mood. The song wrestles with outside influences and manipulation. Its darker, more brooding guitar lines and lyrical repetition feel intentional and thematically cohesive, reinforcing its message.

“Falling Through” brings Lois Jenkins back, and she shines again. This track has a more modern indie feel, with bright, layered guitars and a youthful energy that sets it apart from the rest. It’s clearly her voice, both literally and artistically, and a signal of exciting potential.

“Some Body” opens with synthy textures and a moody atmosphere. When the guitar joins in, it locks everything together. The vocals are a high point again, though the early instrumental could better support them. Still, once the elements settle, the song finds its groove.

“Sitting Here” brings back Tanja Stanley for another emotionally rich performance. Her delivery is sweet yet resonant, and the song has a universal, every-season appeal. It’s a love song, gentle and sincere, and highlights again how Jenkins’ collaborators lift the project beyond a solo effort.

“Six Ways From Sunday” dives deep into social commentary. With lyrics about dictatorship and cycles of toxic leadership, it’s both timely and unsettling. The emotional weight of the words is matched by the dark instrumentation, creating one of the album’s most serious moments.

“Means A Whole Lot” is a touching tribute to family. With a Beatles-esque guitar motif and a sense of longing in the vocals, it closes in on themes of togetherness and emotional grounding. The help of Paul Tipler on the final mix adds polish without losing the song’s intimacy.

“Something Going On” and “Cloud Nine” round out the album with bright, catchy tunes, though at times the instrumentals slightly overpower the vocals. They’re enjoyable listens that are full of good melodies, but might benefit from a more balanced mix. Still, they keep the emotional range of the album intact, ending on a hopeful note. Have a listen here.

SCORE/Good – Overall, This Is Me Trying! is more than an album; it’s a personal journal set to music. There are rough edges, and that’s precisely what makes it special. It’s not trying to be perfect. It’s trying to be honest. And in that, Orange JeLy has succeeded spectacularly.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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