With a strong second single Tell Me You Care, Sutlej are still on the rise, demonstrating the London trio’s knack for blending alternative rock with emotional honesty. After their first album, Let Me Out, the band delves into a new facet of their sound but maintains the same style that made them debut.
The song, which was produced by Alex Mountford (who also produced their debut), features a well-mesh balance of atmosphere, melody and intensity. The song starts with a bit of restraint and slowly builds to an emotional outpouring. The guitars are gritty, the rhythm is solid and the harmony is full and it has a familiar yet fresh sound.
Tell Me You Care is all about vulnerability at heart. The song title aptly summarizes the direct and honest message of the song that was a strong need for reassurance and connection. The vocals throughout are all heartfelt, shifting between quieter sections to the higher intensity ones at points of chorus that leave a lasting impression.
The simplicity and sincerity of the single is what makes it special. The Sutlej sing without resorting to too much verbiage, and let the emotion of the songs do the work. The band has been inspired by the music that resonates with them – grunge, emo and post-punk – and they are continuing to define a style that is uniquely theirs.
Tell Me You Care is another solid offering from a group that is making a huge mark for itself with their growing number of singles in the near future. It’s a release that is emotional, memorable and authentic – and it’s clear that Sutlej has the songwriting talent and creative vision to make an impact.
Listen to Tell Me You Care
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Tell Me You Care follows your debut single Let Me Out. How does this new track build on or move away from that first introduction to the band?
its a different side to our sound whilst staying in the same ballpark – both singles where some of the first songs we finalised as a band and truly believe in and so we thought they where fitting first releases
The title Tell Me You Care feels very direct and emotionally exposed. What was the story or feeling behind choosing that name?
it just does what it says on the tin – its very honest and vulnerable which is what we strive for.
As a three-piece, how do the three of you typically divide up the songwriting and arranging process? Did Tell Me You Care come together differently this time?
it depends song to song – some we jam out in a room, some me (lewis singer and guitarist) and George butcher (bass) write a song together sometimes I have written a song to flesh out with the band and sometimes George butcher will pass on a guitar part its all different.
This song was one written in my old band and sent to both Georges to see if they’d be interested in playing this sort of music and forming a band, its evolved since then from a single person demo to three members of a band putting their stamp on it.
Your sound has been described as blending 90s grunge and emo with modern postpunk. How did that mix shape the direction of this particular single?
It’s just some of the music we listen to and so naturally seeped into this song I guess – it’s not an active choice necessarily the music just comes out like that when we’re put in a room together.
Let Me Out was produced by Alex Mountford. Did he return for Tell Me You Care, and how did that collaboration influence the final sound?
We did both songs at once with Alex and took our time with them. Alex has a great ear and musical understanding and shaped the songs brilliantly he introduced suggestions and support to really squeeze the most out of the songs, he’s brilliant!
Lyrically, where does Tell Me You Care sit compared to the themes of frustration and freedom you explored on your debut?
they’re both fairly similar thematically but from different angles both sonically and lyrically – which is why we wanted to put them out as two singles rather than as part of a project.
London has such a strong and varied music scene. How much has the city shaped the sound and identity of Sutlej as a band?
yeah a fair bit, playing numerous gigs here, living here, meeting people here, just experiencing London as a place it finds its way without you even realising into the music I guess.
You have a run of five more singles planned across 2026 and into 2027. Where does Tell Me You Care fit into that bigger picture?
It’s just a standalone single, letting people know who we are before we start releasing bodies of work, Let Me Out and Tell Me You Care didn’t feel like they’d fit on our upcoming EP so we just gave them their own space as our first songs out – which felt important to do as they where the first songs we where proud of as a band
Bands like Deftones, Wunderhorse and Sunny Day Real Estate get mentioned alongside your name. How do you feel about those comparisons, and what do you think makes Sutlej’s sound distinctly your own?
yeah we love those bands – comparisons help at the start of a bands career to find their audience but we listen to a lot of different music and are inspired by a lot of different things which has found its way into our upcoming releases, we like mixing a lot of styles together and for us to carve our own sound out we’re still experimenting with different styles and genres.
When listeners hear Tell Me You Care for the first time, what do you hope they take away from it, both emotionally and musically?
I don’t know I hope they enjoy it and connect with it emotionally but if they don’t that’s also fine haha.
