Marianne Joyce – Inventing Something (self released)
A beautiful folk pop track paying tribute to lost queer love stories Inventing Something is the debut single from Dartmoor-based songwriter Marianne Joyce.
Artist: Marianne Joyce
Track: Inventing Something
Label: Self released
Release date: 6 February 2026
Find it: Soundcloud
“Do you think all lovers feel as though they’re inventing something?” so goes the line in the film Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, and from which stems some of the lyrical inspiration on the debut single, Inventing Something, from Dartmoor-adjacent artist Marianne Joyce.
The folk pop track explores Joyce’s own identity as well as paying tribute to queer love stories once hidden and now lost to history. Penned with intentionally timeless lyrics, Joyce says, “the song is as relatable to anyone falling in love in 2026 as it would have been to those in secret queer relationships in the 1700s.”
Joyce is certainly shining here. Lyrically and melodically laden with tenderness and vulnerability, with impact delivered through subtlety rather than overblown drama and too many layers of sound.
The track may seem quiet and gentle on the surface but closer listens reveal heart-bursting, soul-filling reflections on love, hope, and all inbetween. There’s much of the folk tradition here, sharing tales of love yearned for, love won, love lost – and most importantly becoming a record of love which for so much of history was hidden through the need for safety rather than any sense of shame.
Rich production gives this the feel of an artist well into their journey so it’s easy to keep forgetting this is the first outing, this is the debut. This opening statement certainly makes Joyce an artist to watch in 2026, and an important voice in indie folk.
Inventing Something by Marianne Joyce is out digitally now.
Find Marianne Joyce: Website | Instagram | TikTok
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Sarah Lay
A long-standing music journalist she's also co-founder of independent record label Reckless Yes, an author of novels, and when not messing around with words and music, a digital strategist.
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