Ian Sweet – ‘Shiverstruck’ album review: So emotive it feels like an invasion of privacy
As a musician, it can be difficult separating your art from your own emotions, which is why so many artists create alter-egos. Ian Sweet is one of them, but even then, that raw feeling finds a way to trickle into sound one way or another.
The Skinny: ‘987’ opens the new album Shiverstruck. There’s nothing too overcomplicated as Sweet welcomes you into the record with just a plucking guitar and a beautiful voice. And yet, those two things alone are enough to get your heart beating a little bit faster, not with adrenaline, but the kind of increased bpm that comes before tears you want to hold back.
No wonder Sweet can tap into emotion so well in her music, as she herself has admitted that by writing songs for so long, she has found herself a more empathetic person. The perception of emotions will undoubtedly be heightened when you’re writing songs, and they help create beautiful music like this.
“Music has pushed me to be more empathetic,” she said. “To pay attention to emotions and experiences that aren’t always comfortable, and channel that into something that feels authentic.”
It’s worth noting that Ian Sweet is the chosen name of Jilian Medford. No doubt when she first started writing music under such a name, there was an element of distance, but the line between art and artist has become blurred over the years, and that’s reflected in the authentic nature of this album. Each song, whether it’s a stripped-back offering on the likes of ‘Shiverstruck’ or something a bit fuller and catchier like ‘Criminal Kissing’, you can feel the realness in every passing second of sound.
While there was no doubt a great deal of effort that went into these tracks, they are so easy to step into, so simple to latch onto the emotions of, that they feel more like a stream of consciousness rather than something which has been pondered over and ruminated on. They have a strong personal element that resonates so deeply, and merely listening feels like an invasion of privacy.
Empathy is a sweet thing anyway, but never has it sounded as wonderful as this.
Standout Track: ‘Criminal Kissing’
The Verdict: A beautiful collection of indie pop with a mixture of upbeat songs and more stripped-back tracks. Regardless of which kind of tempo you prefer, the factor which connects all of these wonderful songs is the authenticity on display throughout. This is a beautiful record through and through.
Release Date: July 24th, 2026 | Producer: Ben H Allen | Label: Polyvinyl
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