Released August 28, 2018
7 / 10
Favorites
Sweet Soul, Between Dusk And Dawn
Least favorites
Falling Autumn
New Zealand's alayna's debut EP showcases impressive vocal performances and a signature combination of mellow sounds and the dramatic that sets her apart from many fellow newcomers of the current revival of electro-infused RnB. Her first collection of tracks was made with the help of Stint (Gallant, Sabrina Claudio, AlunaGeorge, Portugal. The Man, Jessie Ware) and FINNEAS. The result of those collaborations is very accessible music tailored for a rainy day - and all the Spotify playlists that go with this mood. Lyrical content is clear-cut and evocative. High Off You has carefully-dosed lyrics with alluring imagery. Its build-up makes for a nice intro to the EP, with pure vocals - that sporadically, unlike the rest of the EP, wander off in questionable directions - and a plethora of instrumental effects and layers. The title track, Sweet Soul, opens with the perfect combination of the banal and the poetic: "I like the bags under your eyes / It makes me wonder what you lose sleep over" is easily one of the best pair of lines I've heard in a while. Lyrics are poignant and production follows. Again vocals shine through, with some of the most impressive falsetto on the EP. Clearly, vocal talent is not lacking on the EP. Nevertheless it can feel like she gets in her own way as she seems to have a hard time relinquishing control over her unfaltering vocals. It is perhaps not until halfway through the short EP that melody and delivery finally align. Falling Autumn is the least appealing of the five tracks, a drowsy tune that fails to capture the listener's attention despite the dense vocal layering interwoven with drums on the chorus. Bliss strikes me most as sounding like early Alina Baraz' work, and, to a lesser extent, Sabrina Claudio's. I salute the rapid crescendo to the chorus and the instantly gratifying crooning "bliss". Nevertheless, the highlight of "Sweet Soul" for me has to be Between Dusk And Dawn. alayna finally lands on the conclusion of the EP; emotions break out of the container they were kept in - perhaps thanks to FINNEAS, who co-wrote the track and harmonizes with her on the heart-wrenching chorus. The track echoes pain, in a very dramatic display of melancholia. This introductory project feels very personal while keeping the listener at a safe distance. alayna is inviting us into a world where there's no wandering without oversight: "look but don't touch" is the unspoken rule.
Favorite lyrics
"I like the bags under your eyes It makes me wonder what you lose sleep over"
Sweet Soul
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