Ellen May

A fantastic review of Anxiety from Evan at Casual State Audio

Review: Ellen May - ‘Anxiety’ single
(link in comments)

‘It’s always refreshing to hear some good old pop punk in the year of 2026, and with ‘Anxiety’, the new track from Australian group Ellen May, there’s the perfect blend of high energy instrumentals and personal lyrics that always strikes a chord with various people of all ages and generations. There’s something in here for everyone regardless of preference of heaviness, and in the end the band have delivered a track that is as anthemic as it is poignant.

‘Anxiety’ starts with a vibe that is upbeat and musically quite positive, though with the accompanying lyrics the contrast in vibe is evident right away - as is the case with the majority of modern pop punk. With the stripped back start you’d be forgiven for thinking that it would maybe stay on that same intricate path throughout, but the development into a heavier almost grungey chorus (complete with chugging overdriven guitars) is a superb display of evolving momentum. The movement into an alternative punk rock chorus almost reflects the flow of memories as they are remembered, getting more intense as they go, and when paired with the growing energy of the track, the band really hit their stride. There’s a sense of actual anxiety that maybe unintentionally finds its way into the track from the relatively softly delivered main vocals, but what is quite nice to hear is how the additional gang vocals actually end up bolstering the mix and being surprisingly uplifting, even amongst the emotional impact of it.

Tracks like ‘Anxiety’ - and pop punk on the whole - always end up resonating highly with listeners due to how well they bring nostalgia into their sound. Considering we have all experienced nostalgia at some point or another (moreso if we’re of a certain age) it always remains an appealing angle to go from, especially in genres where melody and lyrics sit at the forefront of the sound. With the introspective lyrics touching on self destruction and doubting oneself, and the second verse reflecting on past shared moments, the band dive head on into memories with the kind of vulnerability that will immediately get people connected and singing those words back. ‘Anxiety’ has the intensity and drive that balances out the delicate subject matter while still making it an enjoyable experience wrapped up in a really strong display of instrumental ability. Ellen May has what is key for memorable pop punk: the instinct to be genuine in their feelings, and a great understanding of the genre at hand - and it’s great that they approach both of those things with integrity and raw honesty.’

Written by Evan @ Casual State Audio

A great write up of Anxiety from the good folks at Real Gone!

THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #166 | Real Gone THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #166 Posted on July 23, 2026 by Real Gone Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the more interesting individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. This time out, we’ve got the return of an up and coming si...

3 editorial playlist wins over on Apple Music for ‘Anxiety’

Thanks for all the support on this one!

Stream it here: https://gyro.to/446270-Anxiety

https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/ellen-may

You can now rate and review Anxiety over on triple j Unearthed if you feel so inclined

Thanks for all the support and love on Anxiety.