​Jessye DeSilva - Glitter Up the Dark

​Jessye DeSilva

Glitter Up the Dark
self-released; 2026

By Jamie Funk

Jessye DeSilva’s Glitter in The Dark runs on scale and instinct. The songs don’t twist themselves into knots trying to surprise you. Instead, they aim straight for impact, piling on guitars, synths, and hooks with a kind of unfiltered confidence. What I kept noticing was how direct everything felt. Each track commits fully to its idea, then steps aside for the next one without overcomplicating the path between them.

“The Real” opens the album in full throttle. There’s no easing in here. Layers stack quickly, guitar solos cut through the mix, and the whole thing surges toward a massive hook. The chorus is built to stick, and the lead guitar tone has that unmistakable Brian May brightness, sharp but melodic, slicing cleanly through the density.

“Comrades in Arms” pulls things into a more grounded rock space with a noticeable Americana thread. The verses are stripped back just enough to give the chorus room to expand. When it arrives, it’s immediate. I could lock into it after one pass.

“Punk Rock Joy” introduces synths and a more electronic backbone, bringing in a danceable edge that hints at LCD Soundsystem without copying it outright. Then “Glitter Up the Dark” pivots into polished pop territory, which caught me off guard in a good way. “Forever in Drag” softens the tone with a more weightless atmosphere, while “Fringe” adds a rhythmic pulse that feels lively and loose.

There’s a strong retro current running through parts of the record. “Jar of Fireflies” leans into a clear ’70s character, and “Love on the Road” follows that same thread. “Life on Earth” stood out to me, especially for its guitar work, which feels both grounded and expressive. By the time “Eldritch” closes things out, the album lands on one of its most memorable vocal moments, a hook that holds its shape long after it ends.

​The influences aren’t hidden, and the range is wide. DeSilva moves between styles without hesitation, focusing on clarity and construction over curveballs. The songs are straightforward, but they’re put together with care. It adds up to a record that connects easily and delivers on what it sets out to do.

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