Laura Elizabeth Hughes has released her highly anticipated EP ‘We, Myself, I’. Hughes hones in on her poetic songwriting to create an EP that is simply divine and a triumph for Irish music. The previously featured on Indie Buddie ‘Days’ kick starts the EP. Warm guitar meanders through delicate poetic lyrics and beautiful melodies as Hughes discusses the nothingness and mundane moments when she was out of work. Emotion is expressed through bright glimmers on guitar and lush backing vocals that seem to coo and rotate through the track as if on a wheel of bittersweet monotony. The track is an absolute gem.
However, ‘Days’ is not the only stand out track on the EP. Evoking a sense of vulnerability throughout, ‘Two’, is hair-raising, captivating and utterly heartbreaking. A piano twinkles innocently within a bare and spacious soundscape while chilling loneliness is expressed through the lyrics as Hughes asks, “tell me how you keep it all together now”. This solitary number is stunningly expressive without being overpowering and showcases Hughes’ powerful songwriting ability.
Hughes’ knack with enchanting melodies shines wonderfully bright throughout this EP. Her melodic prowess is best displayed in the bewitching title track ‘We, Myself, I’. A dark guitar tone resounds between delicate plucked melodies as Hughes creates an atmosphere riddled and torn with conflicting emotions. Hughes ruminates “Saving all my hours for you, cramming them in boxes till they all turn black and blue”. Her timeless songwriting and deft lyrical delivery is deeply moving and powerfully emotive while embellished with an artistic flair and finesse well beyond her years “cheap wine chased by time cos I’ve got nothing else to loose”. She provides a perspective everyone has felt this past year, crystallised in mature earnest lyrics and cosy breathtaking arrangements.
Hughes’ music has always been rich in substance and deeply thought-provoking. However within ‘We, Myself, I’ EP Laura Elizabeth Hughes has shown strong musical growth – her sound exudes a cinematic undertone as she weaves evocative silence between ribbons of rapturous melody and warm delicate instrumentation. ‘We, Myself, I’ is a delight to listen to and a glorious display of musicianship from Laura Elizabeth Hughes.
Speaking about the EP Hughes explains; “We, Myself, I” was a little challenge I set myself. To try and navigate the thought paths that solitude was thrusting me down and make something of them. I wanted to try and replicate the advice I was being given in trying to get through a multitude of feelings and anxieties, I was told to keep it simple. To keep life simple. To not get hung up on details and bells and whistles and just focus on breathing through another day. The tracks are trying to navigate feelings of grief, of unjust theft of time and potential, of curiosity as to how other people were seemingly rowing through the sh!t that was 2020 with much more ease than I was. They’re rough around the edges, much like my mind, but they’re soft like I have tried to keep my heart. They’re cut from the same cloth, just like every day seemed to be, but each is coloured differently like I have tried to be mindful of and noticing.”
Stream ‘We, Myself, I’ below
Author : Danu
