Music news
Premiere: “Breakdown” by Penny and Sparrow Is a Personal Indie Folk Confession - Atwood Magazine

Premiere: “Breakdown” by Penny and Sparrow Is a Personal Indie Folk Confession - Atwood Magazine

      Penny and Sparrow present the challenging questions in a seemingly simple manner with “Breakdown,” a heartfelt, sincere, and playful indie folk confession that serves as the final single from their eagerly awaited eighth album, ‘Lefty.’

      “Breakdown” – Penny and Sparrow

      We can never be entirely certain about being accepted for who we truly are by those around us. Yet, we can certainly make an effort to discover it. Every individual deserves unconditional love and acceptance: Sometimes, we simply cross our fingers and hope that our flaws remain unnoticed – but on the other hand, pretending to be someone else never really benefits anyone. It's better to simply embrace your authentic self, which is precisely the mindset Penny and Sparrow adopt in their latest song, directly asking: If I have a breakdown while I'm away, will you still love me?

      As an intimate indie folk confessional, “Breakdown” poses difficult questions straightforwardly, without unnecessary complexity or excessive examination. It’s genuine and candid, portraying the essence of the human experience beautifully.

      Lefty – Penny and Sparrow

      If I have a breakdown while I'm away

      If I have a breakdown while I'm away

      Will you still love me?

      I might, you know?

      But hey, I still need to go

      What if I cry at every performance

      And it’s hey, look out below?

      Atwood Magazine is excited to premiere “Breakdown,” the seventh and final single from Penny and Sparrow’s upcoming eighth studio album, Lefty, set for release on January 31, 2025, via I Love You / Thirty Tigers. This much-anticipated follow-up to the duo’s 2022 album Olly Olly – described by Atwood as “uplifting and free-spirited” at its launch – has been characterized as a “sprawling and dreamy, raw and heartfelt 20-track journey through various styles and emotions.”

      “Lefty is a lengthy collection of both genuine and fictional elements,” Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke of Penny and Sparrow share. “We crafted poetry, true narratives, literary fan fiction, horror, erotica, vivid life snapshots, imagined conversations, elegies, toasts, several confessions, and at least two love letters.”

      “All of these pieces fit together as they each represent an aspect of us and what we cherish. We are the connections that unify Lefty.”

      If I have a breakdown while I’m away

      If I have a breakdown,

      I hope you still love me

      I hope you still love me

      If I have a breakdown while I'm away

      If I have a breakdown while I'm away

      Will you still love me?

      Tender and warm yet brutally honest and vulnerable, “Breakdown” reveals a charming exploration of a hopeful yet troubled heart. With acoustic guitars strumming confidently and drums softly beating around them, the duo addresses anxiety in the context of emerging romance.

      “‘Breakdown’ conveys what it's like to fall in love while experiencing a panic attack,” Baxter and Jahnke explain to Atwood Magazine. “It’s wild, entertaining, and nerve-wracking, akin to watching a complicated Rube-Goldberg machine with a high-stakes outcome. Will you end up with a broken heart or find a life with the captivating person you're infatuated with? The only way to discover is to set the mechanism in motion and observe.”

      I’m on my knees

      Panic makes it hard to breathe

      And if you’re still interested in me

      Then this juice is worth the squeeze

      I can be a Rube-Goldberg machine

      I can complicate things

      I can make the mundane intriguing

      All it requires is your total patience

      I CAN BE A LOT

      Penny and Sparrow © Claire Schaper

      Despite the intense and overwhelming emotions expressed, Penny and Sparrow manage to keep “Breakdown” light-hearted. The song is engaging and inviting, sincere and honest: Enjoyable on its own merits, without a burdensome weight guiding us in a specific way. As the final glimpse into Lefty, it is also a touching reminder of the intimate, genuine connections Penny and Sparrow have established over the past fifteen years – and a prompt to stream the album when it releases this Friday.

      Until then, listen to “Breakdown” exclusively on Atwood Magazine!

      I hope, I hope that you still love me

      I hope, I hope that you still love me

      I hope, I hope that you still love me

      I hope, I hope that you still love me

      — —

      :: stream/purchase Lefty here ::

      :: connect with Penny and Sparrow here ::

      — —

      “Breakdown” – Penny and Sparrow

      — — — —

      Connect with Penny and Sparrow on

      Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram

      Discover new music on Atwood Magazine

      © Claire Schaper

      :: Stream Penny and Sparrow ::

Premiere: “Breakdown” by Penny and Sparrow Is a Personal Indie Folk Confession - Atwood Magazine Premiere: “Breakdown” by Penny and Sparrow Is a Personal Indie Folk Confession - Atwood Magazine Premiere: “Breakdown” by Penny and Sparrow Is a Personal Indie Folk Confession - Atwood Magazine Premiere: “Breakdown” by Penny and Sparrow Is a Personal Indie Folk Confession - Atwood Magazine

Other articles

Interview With Franz Ferdinand: Identity, Instinct, and ‘The Human Fear’ - Atwood Magazine

Interview With Franz Ferdinand: Identity, Instinct, and ‘The Human Fear’ - Atwood Magazine

Atwood Magazine engages with lead vocalist Alex Kapranos to explore Franz Ferdinand’s new album ‘The Human Fear’ and its comprehensive examination of fear.

Good Neighbours release a nostalgic video for their new song 'Ripple'.

Good Neighbours release a nostalgic video for their new song 'Ripple'.

This marks the duo's first release of 2025, coming after their eventful past twelve months.

"Nothing Sticks": Pictoria Vark Discusses Cherishing Life's Significant Moments - Atwood Magazine

"Nothing Sticks": Pictoria Vark Discusses Cherishing Life's Significant Moments - Atwood Magazine

Pictoria Vark's forthcoming second album, 'Nothing Sticks,' is characterized by the artist's strengthened sense of identity. Fueled by pulsating instrumentals and a driving spirit of transformation, this project signals a new chapter of acceptance and musical skill for Vark.

Interview: Camille Schmidt Reveals Everything in Her Debut Album ‘Nude #9’ - Atwood Magazine

Interview: Camille Schmidt Reveals Everything in Her Debut Album ‘Nude #9’ - Atwood Magazine

In her experimental debut album 'Nude #9,' Camille Schmidt, a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, reveals her inner self and encourages herself to enjoy the process.

Andrew Scott features in a poignant video for Sam Fender's "People Watching."

Andrew Scott features in a poignant video for Sam Fender's "People Watching."

Beware - it's incredibly emotional.

Cian Ducrot Explores “Who's Making You Feel It” in His Latest Hit - Atwood Magazine

Cian Ducrot Explores “Who's Making You Feel It” in His Latest Hit - Atwood Magazine

Cian Ducrot's newest single “Who's Making You Feel It” is an exciting fusion of classic piano pop and emotional storytelling, reaffirming why the GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter is among the most relatable artists in contemporary music.

Premiere: “Breakdown” by Penny and Sparrow Is a Personal Indie Folk Confession - Atwood Magazine

Penny and Sparrow effortlessly tackle tough questions in “Breakdown,” a candid, heartfelt, and whimsical indie folk confession – which serves as the last single from their highly anticipated eighth album, ‘Lefty.’