Photo credit: @belscaptured
Following the promising arrival of their debut single, North West indie outfit Movin’ On continue their upward trajectory with “How We Used To,” a heartfelt and emotionally resonant follow-up that showcases both their songwriting maturity and growing confidence as a band.
Balancing driving indie-rock energy with deeply personal lyricism, “How We Used To” taps into a universal feeling: looking back on a relationship through the soft focus of nostalgia, even when you know moving on was the right thing to do. It’s a theme that countless artists have explored, but Movin’ On approaches it with an honesty and sincerity that prevents it from feeling familiar or overworked.
From the opening moments, the track establishes a sense of emotional urgency. Anchored by bright, guitar-driven instrumentation and an energetic rhythm section, the song carries the momentum of a festival-ready indie anthem while retaining an intimate emotional core. The band’s chemistry is evident throughout, with each member contributing to a sound that feels cohesive, dynamic and increasingly refined.
At the centre of the track is frontman Elijah Jenkins, whose vocal performance delivers the song’s emotional weight with authenticity and restraint. Rather than leaning into melodrama, Jenkins allows the lyrics to speak for themselves, capturing the conflicting emotions of remembering the good moments while recognising the reasons things fell apart. His delivery gives the song a conversational quality, as though listeners are being invited into a personal reflection rather than simply hearing another breakup song.
Lyrically, “How We Used To” explores the tension between memory and reality. Jenkins reflects on the tendency to romanticise the past, focusing on moments of happiness while conveniently forgetting the pain that ultimately led to separation. The song’s emotional hook lies in that lingering temptation to believe things could somehow return to what they once were, even when logic suggests otherwise. It’s a relatable sentiment that many listeners will recognise immediately.
Musically, Movin’ On strikes an effective balance between emotional depth and indie-rock immediacy. The guitars provide plenty of energy without overwhelming the song’s reflective mood, while the rhythm section keeps everything moving forward with purpose. There are shades of contemporary British indie throughout, but the band avoid sounding derivative, instead leaning into the natural chemistry that has quickly become one of their defining strengths.
The track also highlights how far the project has evolved since its origins as Elijah Jenkins’ solo endeavour. What began as acoustic songwriting has blossomed into a fully realised four-piece capable of translating personal experiences into expansive, crowd-pleasing indie rock. That evolution is evident in the confidence of the arrangement and the band’s ability to pair introspective storytelling with anthemic musicality.
With “How We Used To,” Movin’ On delivers a thoughtful and affecting indie-rock single that captures the bittersweet nature of looking backwards while continuing to move forward. It’s a relatable, well-crafted release that suggests the band’s impressive early momentum is only just beginning.
