The Here And Now aren’t trying to ease you into anything with “Riptide”. This thing comes out swinging from the first second, and Cherry Terzza’s vocals make sure you’re paying attention whether you planned to or not.
What really works here is the directness. The metaphor is right there in the title, and the band leans into it with confidence. We’ve all had that person or habit or situation that we know is bad news, but we keep going back anyway. The track captures that feeling without getting preachy about it, which is refreshing. Terzza moves between vulnerable and powerful in a way that feels completely natural, giving the song real emotional weight.
The instrumental side is where this track really shines. Jason Bond’s guitar has genuine bite to it, the kind that makes you turn it up louder. Rich Sackey Addo and Callum Lowe keep the rhythm section locked in tight, giving the whole thing a forward momentum that perfectly matches the lyrical theme. You can hear the Paramore and Queens Of The Stone Age influences they’re drawing from, but they’ve taken those elements and made them their own. It sounds fresh rather than derivative.
The band’s experience playing around London since 2020 shows. There’s a tightness here that only comes from doing the work, from playing venues and figuring out what connects with people. They know when to go heavy and when to pull back for a melodic moment, and those choices feel deliberate rather than accidental.
You can listen here.
