The Manchester four-piece Florentenes has shared their third single from their forthcoming EP, “HOMEGROWN” due by May 16, 2025, “What It takes.” The song thrums with an urgency that takes you by the lapels and doesn’t quit.
The frontman, William Smith, lays bare a lived-in, bruised vocal performance, his raspy tone shaking vulnerability and grit into every line. The track opens with a false sense of calm, allowing the lyrics to have some room to breathe before exploding into a thundering chorus packed with infectious hooks and as memorable as they are meaningful harmonies.
The production strikes a perfect balance, polished to hit hard and raw enough to remain human. Florentenes spray-painted into being over jam sessions between Smith and guitarist Luke Holding, and their chemistry is undeniable. Holding’s lead guitar work takes center stage most vividly during the outro, a searing solo that cuts like lightning through the mix.
The song is a hard listen, with an uncompromising, even judgmental attitude toward addiction, an outlook Luke says was influenced by Sam Fender’s “Dead Boys.” It is a brave perspective, one that shines a light on our society’s tendency to misunderstand or underestimate the complexities of mental health and dependency. That honesty, combined with the band’s talent for soaring, anthemic rock, makes “What It Takes” as thought-provoking as it is inescapably catchy.
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