By Colin 
Scottish indie folk duo The Elidas return with their most vulnerable and polished single to date. Out on 29th May 2025 via Big Panic Records and distributed globally by Virgin Music, ‘Hyacinth’ explores the bittersweet weight of hindsight and the regret that follows when passion clouds perspective.
Written together at home, as is their usual process, the sisters—Venice and Belle Herrera—crafted the song from a place of quiet reflection. ‘Hyacinth’ captures the feeling of revisiting something once deeply loved, only to realise too late that you let emotion steer you off course. It’s a song about regret, about wishing you could rewind time to unsay what was said, to undo what was done.
New textures, familiar honesty
While the track’s emotional centre is familiar territory for The Elidas, the recording process marked new creative ground. This time, the duo opened their studio doors to international collaborators, adding fresh textures to their signature acoustic sound.
Drummer Dan Lifton, originally from Southampton and now based in Dubai, developed a percussive backbone that pulses with precision and empathy. Fellow Scot Neil Milton, also working out of Dubai, contributed a simple but powerful piano accompaniment that anchors the track in delicate restraint.
Venice, who also performed guitar, bass, banjo, and steel guitar on the track, experimented with arrangements that gently expanded the duo’s sonic world. The addition of steel guitar and banjo is subtle but effective, giving the song a layered warmth that echoes its emotional complexity.
The track was produced by James E Philps in Atlanta, whose touch adds atmosphere without overshadowing the duo’s earnest core. With its blend of rich instrumentation and intimate storytelling, ‘Hyacinth’ is a quietly stunning step forward.
Looking back to move forward
Though ‘Hyacinth’ is built on reflection, it does not dwell in despair. There’s catharsis in the arrangement, and hope in the harmony between the sisters’ voices. Their chemistry as vocalists continues to be one of the most compelling elements of their sound—never flashy, always sincere.
Safe to say, this was the most fun they’ve ever had in the studio. And that joy, paired with emotional depth, is what makes ‘Hyacinth’ feel so alive.