Lois reaches new heights in sophomore EP, 'SEVEN'
- blondevibrations
- Sep 21
- 4 min read
With her new EP, 'SEVEN', Lois steps boldly into the spotlight, delivering a project that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Across its five tracks, she navigates a breadth of themes like growth, self-discovery, vulnerability and resilience with brilliant artistry. Lois creates an intimate yet expansive soundscape, where listeners can both listen to the story but really feel the emotions charged beneath the storytelling.
The project's opening track 'MINE' presents an interesting build-up as we are introduced to intense, yet subtle vocals that draw you in with a confident exterior and effortless control. The song strikes a perfect middle ground between pop and alt, incorporating catchy pop sounds while leaning into rock elements, as a showcase of her versatility. The track feels euphoric as it explores the liberation of stepping away from the narrative of the past. It embraces the shedding of older versions of yourself, moving towards a more evolved, more knowing version of who you are meant to be, with the resilience to be confident in your choices. 'MINE', paired with its loading-like sound at the beginning of the song, feels like the opening scenes to a movie as we meet its protagonist for the very first time -- a very powerful and fitting approach for the beginning of 'SEVEN'.
The second track shares the EP's title, 'SEVEN', and is a whirlwind of craving and questioning. Lois described the track as 'craving a party, night life, connection, dancing, crying, loving - it’s everything you go to a party for, and everything you’re running away from,' and that is exactly how it feels to the listener. She blends all these elements into something gloriously messy, a rush of emotions that hit you like a wave as you grow. It embraces the turbulence, and captures that question-mark moment in life with refreshing honesty. Her voice loops around your head like a dream, carrying the weight of it all with a kind of effortless ache. The song's chorus rings out 'Right now, I'm feeling my age / 'Cause everything changed / So stuck in my old ways / I can't seem to let go' , highlighting the complications of wanting to let something go but also finding comfort in those old ways. This track becomes an ode to the messy, non-linear experiences of being young, but not as young as you once were.
'PHOENIX' strips back the energy from the opening two tracks, we meet Lois at a vulnerable moment as we reach the mid-way point of the EP. This song is a sorrowful exploration of societal expectations placed on women, reminiscent of RAYE's 'Ice Cream Man.'. However, a hopeful spoken-word bridge highlights the power of women when we all stand together and expresses a yearning for 'a space to grow'. The track poignantly captures the impossibility of navigating womanhood: 'Make sure you're subtle / But just change the world / But they don't care'. Its isolated final line of 'That's not very lady-like' lingers, leaving the listener space to reflect on everything Lois has conveyed so eloquently throughout the track. Despite the variety showcased on the EP so far, one thing is clear: Lois possesses a remarkable ability to capture the listener's attention and ensure her voice is heard loud and clear.
A personal favourite from 'SEVEN' is certainly 'LOVE YOU BETTER' -- a decision certainly not made lightly. The song opens with a gentle Disney meets Studio Ghibli prelude with a sweetly sung verse with a slight electronic tone, before bursting with that infectious pop style that we've loved to hear from Lois throughout the project. The song's sparkling production along with lines like 'I'm feeling better now / There's one thing that remains' feels as though Lois is channeling Maisie Peters' 'There It Goes'. Both artists bring exactly the kind of warm, restorative energy we crave as the days shorten and autumn closes in.
By the time you reach the closing track, 'APRIL SHOWERS', you can't help but feel nostalgic for a first-listen that hasn't yet ended. A gentle acoustic song with the hooking chorus line of 'We left our love in April showers' feels like a closing of two chapters: the EP and the relationship of its subject. With the project's curtain slowly drawing in this final track, you are invited by Lois to reflect upon the stages that you have experienced with her throughout this track list. Its breakdown in the final minute, after the crescendo bridge, feels like the final stages of a cord-cutting ritual. The emotions Lois bares here burn bright one final time, before sealing 'SEVEN' with an unforgettable farewell.
Each track of 'SEVEN' introduces you to a different shade of Lois' artistry, showcasing an artist who doesn't just want to be heard, but deserves to be. This is a powerful sophomore EP that lingers long after its closing line, leaving us buzzing with anticipation for what she'll deliver next.
Comments