A Celebration of the Best of Lucy Spraggan: ‘Other Sides Of The Moon’ Review

Photo Credit: Emilia Kate/Lucy Spraggan

Independent singer-songwriter, Lucy Spraggan, has today released her highly anticipated 8th studio album, Other Sides Of The Moon – a collection of reimagined, reworked classics from her 7 previous records, plus brand-new songs; a wonderful mix of old and new Lucy. 

With a current count of over 400,000 Spotify listeners, Lucy Spraggan has achieved a substantial following throughout her career, and, being an independent artist, she has full control over her recording and creative processes. 2023 saw the release of Process, her autobiographical memoir, and Sunday Times bestseller, which tells the story of her journey from childhood, to her X Factor days, to finding balance in her 30s. Through her intimate and personal storytelling, Lucy has never shied away from being emotionally honest.

Lucy began singing from a very young age, performing self-penned songs at any open mic night she could attend in her hometown. In 2012, she auditioned for X Factor and subsequently became the first artist from the show to achieve a Top 40 single and album before the live shows had even aired. On Other Sides of the Moon, Lucy has worked closely with friend and mentor, Simon Cowell, who personally guided the album from a creative perspective. 

The album opens with Unsinkable, a recently released single that first came to light on Britain’s Got Talent. The song was featured as part of a montage following an audition by a choir made up of those affected by the Post Office Scandal. It was so poignant that Lucy decided to drop the track early, much to her fans’ delight. It’s a wonderfully impactful start to the album, a reassuring reminder that in times when we feel like we are ‘drowning’, ‘we are unsinkable’.The marriage of Lucy’s soft and soothing vocals with the beautiful strings that drive the song, is enough to leave the hairs standing upright on your arm. 

Next, we are met with the title track, Other Sides Of The Moon, which is certainly one to remember. Originally released last June, the song is an emotive ode to Lucy’s wife, Emilia. In this brilliant, remastered version, her emotionally driven vocals add authenticity to her performance. The layered backing vocals are simply heaven to the ears, particularly on the line, ‘I was always going to get to you’. With clever verse rhyming and a catchy hook, there is no doubt that a song this mesmerising can only come from a place of true love. A side note – all of the photographs from Lucy’s album promo have been shot by her wife, who is a photographer, which is such a sweet detail!

Other Sides Of The Moon includes her stunning song Sober but this time, it features the legendary icon that is Robbie Williams. Sober, originally released in 2020, is a song about Lucy’s journey giving up alcohol and its re-release celebrates her 5 years of sobriety. The original, with Lucy’s sole vocals, is wonderful as a standalone… but what ‘Better Man’ to team up with for the remaster, than Robbie Williams?

Lucy has been vocal throughout her career about Robbie, stating how he is such a personal and professional inspiration to her, and having him sing on Sober must have been a huge full circle moment.

Having another perspective to the song adds even more emotion. Robbie’s low and smooth vocals mesh perfectly with Lucy’s silky harmonies, providing another goosebumps-moment for the listener. Another one to remember, for sure. 

Also included in the album is Lucy’s tear-jerking debut single, Tea & Toast, which first touched the hearts of the nation when Lucy performed it in the Bootcamp stage on X Factor.

The song is inspired by a real-life couple who she once met, and it tells the tragic life story as a man ‘born in 1942, with eyes of blue,’ called Tom navigates themes of love and loss. It is an inspiring tune with a particularly catchy chorus, reminding listeners to not take life for granted and to appreciate every waking moment. The new version is stripped back with a slower tempo and no backing vocals, which allows the narrative to be the focal point rather than the instrumentation. The single released in 2013 has accumulated 13 million Spotify streams, and the 2025 remaster is bound to follow suit. 

Finally, the album concludes with Lightning, a reworked version of its 2019 original. It follows a similar theme as the first song on the album, Unsinkable: do not be afraid of life’s adversities, because you will make it through (‘Light up the sky with lightning, we ain’t afraid of thunder…. We were born to wonder.’) Because of this, it feels as though the album is a perfect cycle. The first and last song represent Lucy’s overriding message in her songwriting across her career. Plus, the new version of Lightning has more of a layered sound with grand backing vocals and a coming-together of electric guitars, strings, and percussion, making for as much of an impactful ending to the album as its opening. 

This album really is a celebration of the best of Lucy Spraggan – 15 of her most moving and influential tunes. Fans can revisit some of her musical highlights, but it is a wonderful insight into her sound for new listeners. 

Lucy has a busy summer ahead, performing at numerous festivals across the UK, including Milton Keynes International Festival and Wickham Festival, before embarking on a UK tour in November visiting cities including Bristol, Glasgow and London. Tickets are available here.