Photo Credit: Jessy Keely

Manchester’s Better Joy has spent the past year building momentum and recognition. Festival appearances at the likes of Y Not and Truck Festival, a recent support slot with Somebody’s and the announcement of her biggest headline tour yet have set the stage for her sophomore EP, ‘at dusk’. The six-track release, described as a sister EP to her 2025 debut Into the Blue, expands her sound while keeping the emotive storytelling that has become her hallmark. Produced by Mike Hedges (The Cure, U2, Manic Street Preachers, Travis), ‘at dusk’ sees Better Joy’s Bria Keely revealing her vulnerability across every track. The result is a sound which feels reflective but never static, demonstrating an artist truly in her prime.

The EP opens with ‘this part of town’, the track released at the time of announcing this musical offering. Through thoughtful guitar and percussion, Keely captures the ache of distance and uncertainty. Layering emotion over a hypnotic, heart-aching melody, it’s impossible to not be immediately drawn in. It’s a quietly compelling start that sets the tone for the rest of the EP.  ‘Steamroller’ introduces a subtly rockier edge while retaining the warm, melodic sensibility that has become Better Joy’s signature. Keely’s confessional lyric, “I never showed you the heavy metals in my bones,” strikes a balance between vulnerability and quiet strength. The track feels like a statement of resilience, a reminder that even in the face of challenges, Keely’s voice remains steady and spellbinding.

On ‘Plugged In’, as Keely navigates the messiness of love with ease. Gentle instrumentation and the consistent melody let her voice take center stage, making it one of the EP’s most relatable and immediate tracks. ‘I’m There’ carries a sense of nostalgia, evoking the glow of early-2000s indie-pop without ever sounding derivative. In this track we see Better Joy’s true resilience, backed by her creative storytelling. 

The final two tracks ‘Big Thief’ and ‘So Long’ bring the release to a powerful close. ‘Big Thief’ is the EP’s boldest moment. Urgent rhythms and brighter instrumentation give it a sense of liberation. Keely turns tension and frustration into something empowering, showing how she can translate personal experience into something universal. Closing with ‘So Long,’ the EP gradually swells into a luminous finish. Layers of guitars and harmonies tie together the record’s recurring themes of growth, independence, and self-assurance. It leaves the listener with a sense of closure while hinting at the next stage of Better Joy’s musical journey.

By the time ‘So Long’ fades, ‘at dusk’ has already made its mark. Across six tracks, Better Joy shows vulnerability and grit in equal measure. There’s confidence here, but it never feels forced and Keely’s voice carries a delicacy that makes every track feel lived-in. This EP isn’t just a collection of songs, it’s a clear statement of intent. With at dusk, Bria Keely confirms herself as a rising force in indie-pop, an artist carving out her own space with precision, heart, and undeniable presence.