Picture by: Romy Caton-Jones / ig: romytakesphotos
When many fans stumbled into a UK festival this summer, I doubt they were expecting to uncover such a rare treasure in the form of Girl in the Year Above, a band who spent their summer dazzling countless crowds.
GITYA are a new band – having only been formed in 2024 – that have already found their own distinctive voice in the chorus of up-and-coming artists in 2026.
Of Irish and Cornish origin, the band are a result of divine human connection, with frontwoman Jennifer Ball discovering a world of musical talent after meeting her fiancé and guitarist, David Kennedy. Kennedy's own brother (Shane Kennedy, acoustic guitar and bass) and childhood best friend (Nathan Coen, bass and acoustic guitar) are two of the band's members.
They are joined by drummer Kapil Trivedi and keyboardist Jeanie White, who dreamed up the band alongside Ball after meeting at Glastonbury Festival. You can't help but imagine the pair coming full circle, with their journey only going up and towards that famous Pyramid Stage.
Currently, the result of their collaboration is limited to two released songs, but they have seriously set the standard for the music that is to come. Those who are lucky enough to have seen GITYA live will know that their discography is almost indescribable. Some songs uplift you, some devastate you and some leave you feeling positively outrageous. The one feeling that persists is the desperation to hear every song again, something that has made me resort to snippets and teasers I've found by trawling through their social media.
During their incredible set at the Deaf Institute in Manchester, the standout to me was the unreleased 'Best Behaviour', which has been running around my head for months. It was far from easy to pick a favourite – each song is so incredible that it makes me understand the limited releases so far; these songs all deserve the right moment in the spotlight.
Songs released so far feel as though they have been bathed in this light. The heart-wrenching 'Mama, My Heart Is Achin'' explores the nuances of soul-shattering grief, and the ache that comes with it that you never want to be rid of. This message sits on a backdrop of indie-rock, creating a truly unique listening experience.
'Ode to the Glory Days' is a serious lesson in storytelling through musicality and has you feeling every emotion under the sun as the instruments rise and fall.
In the next week, a third single will be joining their small but strong discography, with the release of 'Wet Paint' being highly anticipated, and requested, by fans. Having experienced this live, I can only imagine the wide-reaching impact of such a powerful song, and I cannot wait to experience it blasting out of a car window.