SINGLE REVIEW: Smallworld – Worn out with Dreams

‘…this is a band that emo spaces absolutely need to keep an eye on. It is a creative, unconventional, and magnificently crafted debut single…’

Describing their sound as that of “northern escapism”, five-piece Smallworld emerged into the north west live scene mid last year, with shows across Merseyside and Manchester. That momentum isn’t looking to slow down as we enter the new year, with a co-headline tour with Ugly Jumper and Pale Sailor that will take them as far afield as Sheffield. Those live performances are now backed up with the band’s debut single, ‘Worn out with Dreams’.

We may only be fourteen days into 2026, but it is difficult to imagine a world in which this absolutely magnificent feat of musicianship does not make it onto the Vinyl Fantasy Reviews Song of the Year 2026 list.The outrageous flair of Foxy Shazam collides with the sparkling vocals of Topiary Creatures on this delightfully theatrical emo cut. Guitars swoop and dive through instantly catchy riffs and tremolo solos, whilst rhythms swap and change through moments of youthful exuberance and bittersweet melancholy; Smallworld keep you on your toes throughout, and never once let up on the momentum.

The bristling instrumental is decorated with a vocal performance that magnificently executed. Dual melodies intertwine with one another with a glittering, resonant sense of spirit, whilst gang vocal harmonies add a real rambunctious edge to the theatrics. Em and Sean make for a genuinely fantastic combination as vocalists, with everything from their delivery to their tone complimenting one another marvellously. Wherever you look, the track offers magic for the ears.

If ‘Worn out with Dreams’ is anything of an indication of what Smallworld will go on to offer, then this is a band that emo spaces absolutely need to keep an eye on. It is a creative, unconventional, and magnificently crafted debut single that goes to show just why keeping an ear to the ground of the grassroots is essential for anybody who thinks of themselves as a music fan.

For Fans Of: Topiary Creatures, Foxy Shazam, itoldyouiwouldeatyou, My Chemical Romance, Arm’s Length

Featured photo credit belongs to Luke Storey (@shotbystorey).

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