Shannon Gillespie wants you singing along to ‘L.O.V.E’

Shannon Gillespie is irresistible on ‘L.O.V.E’. I love the energy she brings to it, and the hook grabs me straight away. It’s fun, catchy pop from an artist I’ve been cheering on for a while.

The single arrives on 30th October 2026. Shannon describes it as a precursor to ‘Drag it out’. It explores the realisation a relationship isn’t working and questions whether she deserves the blame.

The recording features more vocal layers than anything she has made before, including shouted “la la la” parts and singers spelling out the word love. Leo Craig produces, with mastering from Grant Berry.

I hear the Chappell Roan feel, particularly in the spelling-out and group singing. Shannon herself names ‘HOT TO GO!’ alongside ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and ‘Gives You Hell’ as reference points.

From delicate vocals to a fuller band sound

When I included Shannon in Artists To Watch in 2024, her delicately delivered vocals were what I wanted to celebrate. Her three releases in 2023 dealt with difficult experiences, and I admired how much feeling she put into them. It gives me a particular pleasure to hear the same artist making something as energetic as ‘L.O.V.E’.

By ‘One For The Road’ in 2025, she was writing about first dates and chaotic Liverpool nights. Bright guitars and live drums accompanied the charm and wit I enjoyed in her singing. She traced the fuller sound to her first headline show with a band: “reimagining my music with more musicians completely changed the way I wanted to create”.

‘The Runner’ followed with a steady pulse and an energetic delivery. Shannon sang about hoping something meant for her would arrive “sprinting” her way. The rhythm kept moving while the writing left room for disappointment. I liked hearing romantic determination without the suggestion she had everything worked out.

Describing ‘L.O.V.E’, Shannon jokes about the possibility “in a shocking turn of events, I’m not the problem”. I like the humour in her account of the song.

‘L.O.V.E’ review

I love how much fun Shannon makes a relationship reckoning. The vocal layers suit the attitude: she has plenty of company while she questions who deserves the blame. There’s frustration behind the song, but the performance makes the realisation feel worth celebrating.

I want to hear ‘L.O.V.E’ live, with an audience spelling it back to Shannon.

Follow Shannon on Instagram.