BORSCHT Release New Single 'Up North'

Words by Angelika May

Image by Eddie Lawrence

Is it really grim up North? Do you feel a sense of elation or despondency as you trudge further up the M1? Is the sky truly that grey? And as the number of Greggs steadily increases, does life get better or somehow worse, regardless of the abundance of sausage rolls?

Somewhere between affection and animosity sits BORSCHT’s new single, “UP NORTH”, a quirky track about what they describe as one of life's elusive mysteries...marriage! The track was written during a period marked by pressure, change and emotional strain and exists in a place of contradiction, never fully choosing a side. It is a melancholic, affectionate ode to a life once lived in the North, and captures the fragile balancing act of holding things together as life shifts, while still retaining a sense of meaning and joy.

“UP NORTH” continues the band’s blend of alt-rock ritual and darker, esoteric folk. Built around frontman Ernst’s songwriting, shaped by the band (Billy, Blue, Chris, and Marco) alongside key collaborator Benjamin Romans-Hopcraft, the band offers a sound that is part strange fable and part social commentary.

There is an immediate tonal charm to “UP NORTH”, with its opening carrying a sardonic sparkle reminiscent of The Magnetic Fields, alongside hints of early Pulp and Fat White Family lingering in its off-kilter delivery. The track unfolds like a slow dance at a slightly surreal '80s prom, balancing earnestness with a faintly comedic edge. 

Their debut single, “Colour of Forever”, released last month, invited its listeners to slip on the rose-tinted glasses of their teenage summers and sway the angst away. The track leaned into a softer, more melodic palette, unfolding with a warmer, more inviting rhytym and a folk-tinged glow that created a richly textured atmosphere. Although there is an intentional mismatch between the detached vocal delivery and the more tender instrumentation, that contrast works in the single's favour, creating a compelling balance.

As in “Colour of Forever”, Ernst’s vocals drift lazily across “UP NORTH”, carrying the same weary disconnection, but unlike "Colour of Forever", the song settles into something more subdued.

The track finds its footing in moments, a standout moment arrives with the introduction of a brass section, which lifts the arrangement into an expressive, lounge-like flourish. However, a late-emerging guitar line towards the climax feels like a missed opportunity to ground the song earlier. Even with some uneven edges, “UP NORTH” cements BORSCHT’s place within London’s alternative circuit. Paired with visuals from Eddie Lawrence, the single remains a curious, characterful release that hints at greater things to come. 

This single follows the announcement of BORSCHT’s debut EP, “Colour of Forever”, set for self-release on the 15th of May. The project draws on the image of the medieval fool, a wandering jester in the spirit of Till Eulenspiegel, and uses satire, mischief, and uncomfortable truth as a guiding thread. Across the record, this figure drifts between courts and taverns, exposing folly as much through performance as perception, with a sharp tongue hidden beneath painted laughter. 

Expanding on the tone of “UP NORTH”, “Colour of Forever” promises a wider, more theatrical exploration of BORSCHT’s strange and characterful world.

Image by Eddie Lawrence

Upcoming Live Dates:

 May 13-16 @ The Alternative Escape,

BrightonMay 21 @ Third Man Record, London (Supporting J Mahon)

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