Photo by: Lindsey Byrnes
Emily James is introspective and intimate in new release Grey, detailing across six beautiful tracks the psychological dysfunction of heartbreak and the simultaneous move towards self-acceptance.
The EP kicks off with “Lovely Enough,” an immediate window into the psyche of James as a self-confessed people pleaser. The song holds a mirror to the feeling of not being good enough, the universal desire to be desirable, delivered through a pretty falsetto and a rousing acoustic instrumental. Fans of Holly Humberstone and Katie Gregson-MacLeod in particular will be drawn to the opener with its thoughtful lyricism and delicate vocal.
Contrastingly, “Past Tense” explores the frustrating contradiction between wishing somebody was right for you but needing to prioritise yourself. Soundtracked by a steady guitar and a slightly rock-infused backing vocal, the song has a bridge that Taylor Swift would be proud to have produced. Immediately, listeners are introduced to the emotional conflict that underlines the overarching sentiment of the EP, adding an edge and a layer of complexity to the collection which draws her audience even closer.
“For an Evening” launches fans back into the throes of heartbreak, a poignant piano ballad of transitory romance and dealing with missing the person that you believed was everything to you. This song, with ethereal vocals for contemplative lyrics, epitomises a sense of ‘right person, wrong time’ that is unequivocally relatable. The state of uncertainty and personal purgatory encapsulated by the album’s title is once again reflected here; we get a feeling that this track explores the ‘grey area’ to which James refers when talking about her ambivalence within a past relationship.
If “For an Evening” details the pain of sitting on one side of heartbreak, “Think I’m Gonna Make It” recounts the relief of getting out to the other. James writes around the catharsis of finding peace and understanding completeness within oneself as the album moves into upbeat territory within the fourth track. The airy instrumental is accompanied by grounding, empowering vocals signifying release – the music itself appears to embody the lightness of acceptance and James’ storytelling continues to delight.
The uniquely agonising journey from friends to lovers to strangers is the subject of the mellow penultimate track, “New Name to Heartbreak.” James navigates the hurt of being incomparably devastated by a lover who was once a close confidant, eliciting a torment like no other. The oscillating acoustic pairs with a haunting soundscape to match the swing from heartache to deliverance present as the tracks progress, each set within a different mood to the previous.
A fitting conclusion to the EP, “Happy for Me” turns focus to the individual. The song deals with relinquishing past regret and looking forward to the future – the importance of seizing the present moment is carried forward by listeners, making this the perfect closer. The pulsating guitar sends fans away with a sense of optimism, completing the cyclical emotional journey both for artist and audience. If James felt ‘grey’ when writing this music, “Happy for Me” is the beginning of a journey towards golden.
Emily James is unquestionably your new favourite pop singer-songwriter. Having started her own musical journey at such a young age, her maturation as an artist is more evident than ever in her latest release. Grey journals the timeline of a complex and deeply meaningful relationship, from the perspective of the individual as well as within a pair, and how we grapple with the most difficult emotions, through gorgeously engaging lyricism and elegant, understated acoustics that let the music speak for itself.
You can listen to Grey here:
