The Debutantes: Groovy 1960's-inspired pop songs

The Debutantes: Victoria and Lavinia George-Veale. Promo photo for "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice."

Lavinia and Victoria in vintage dresses for the "My Precious Love" video.

The Debutantes, photo taken for the "Heartache" single.

Do you love the groovy sounds of the pop music of the 1960’s? If, like me, you answered yes to that question, there’s a new group you should check out: The Debutantes. The Debutantes are Victoria and Lavinia George-Veale, two sisters from Cardiff, Wales. Raised in a musical family, they have absorbed many musical influences from the 1960’s and beyond.

The Debutantes have released three singles so far. A full album, titled Symphonic Pop, was due to be released this summer, but it’s now been pushed back to 2021, due to the covid epidemic. Alan Jones, a member of the 1960’s Welsh pop group Amen Corner, is the producer and manager for the Debutantes, and he's written most of the songs for Symphonic Pop.

The Debutantes’ first single, released at the end of 2019, is a cover of Amen Corner’s 1969 UK Number 1 hit, “(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice.” On their version, the Debutantes sing with Andy Fairweather Low, who sang lead on the original hit, which is a fun touch. Fairweather Low’s voice still sounds great, and his vocals have a rich, soulful quality.

“(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice” starts with the girls singing “la la la la” before the chorus: “If paradise is half as nice as heaven that you take me to/who needs paradise, I’d rather have you.” The song has a really full, lush sound, harkening back to Phil Spector’s famous “Wall of Sound” records from the 1960’s. There’s a great bit towards the end of the song where Fairweather Low sings the bridge while the girls sing the chorus as a counterpoint behind him. “(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice” is a song I was not familiar with—it wasn’t a big hit in the United States—and the Debutantes’ version is a great upbeat slice of retro pop. Both Victoria and Lavinia have warm, inviting voices, and their harmonies are fantastic. The music video features the Debutantes singing and dancing in a field, mixed with archival footage of Amen Corner performing the song.

“My Precious Love,” the Debutantes’ second single, followed in February of 2020. It’s an original composition by Alan Jones that sounds like a terrific lost girl-group single from 1963. “My Precious Love” pays homage to the sounds of the 1960’s without merely sounding like a pastiche. The song grabs the listener right away, with a big buildup to the vocal entrance. The girls start singing “la la la la” before the chorus. “My Precious Love” has an infectious groove, and it’s impossible to hear the song and not start moving. Lavinia and Victoria’s vocals blend together seamlessly on all their songs, but especially so on this track. Devotees of 1960’s pop will appreciate the pizzicato sound of the string instruments on “My Precious Love,” as it fits right in with other tunes from that decade. The music video for “My Precious Love” is lots of fun, as Lavinia and Victoria, dressed in vintage 1960’s frocks, have a great time dancing and performing this catchy song.

The Debutantes’ most recent single is “Heartache,” released at the end of June 2020. It’s another catchy tune, with guitar and piano prominent in the mix. It’s a bouncy, high energy song, despite the sadness of the lyrics. As Victoria and Lavinia sing at the beginning of the song: “I don’t want to stay around and see you with another girl.” But you quickly get the feeling that they’ll soon get over this guy and be just fine. “Heartache” features gorgeous layered backing vocals and harmonies, which add to the texture of the Debutantes’ songs. The music video for “Heartache” was filmed by the Debutantes themselves during quarantine, and it’s quite hilarious.

I think the future holds a lot of promise for the Debutantes, and I’m looking forward to hearing more music from them. So, give the Debutantes a listen on Spotify, iTunes, or however you listen to music these days. You’ll enjoy their upbeat pop tunes and fantastic harmonies.