'SIRENITY': King Isis confronts chaos and seeks growth in latest EP

blondevibrations
Jun 25
3 min read

King Isis creates experimental pop-rock that blends gritty guitars and powerful vocals, introspection, and identity on their latest EP 'SIRENITY'. Their sound challenges boundaries and leads the way for a wave of artists creating unpredictably raw, emotionally charged art.

PERMANENTLY BROKEN

'PERMANENTLY BROKEN' serves as an unsparing declaration of embracing imperfection, and a candid look inside Isis’ mindset of the restless, pent-up energy that builds throughout. The track is a strong introduction to their distorted and deeply personal worldview, with lyrics in the chorus like 'Permanently broken, cut me open / I feel everything and nothing at the same time', and there is clear catharsis in its release. It confronts existential dread and the search for meaning, like an anthemic ode to overthinking, uncertainty, and the unrest and quiet anxieties that emerge with age and self-discovery.

'TEARS DON’T DRY (IN A RIVER)'

Stepping into 'TEARS DON’T DRY (IN A RIVER)', the angst deepens, and the rock influence becomes more defined. The track carries a brooding intensity that remains captivating from start to finish. Layers of texture unfold as the chorus arrives, with warped vocals swirling into the mix. The pacing slows momentarily, offering a calm before the storm, before plunging back into the chaos. Isis injects a thrilling energy into every moment across this track, making it impossible to ignore, and easy to hit replay.

'BAD 4 ME'

Opening with a smouldering guitar line and sultry vocals, 'BAD 4 ME' immediately pulls the listener into King Isis’ shadowy world. It feels as if King Isis is inches from the microphone, offering a confessional intimacy that draws you into their darkness, whispering secrets that have become too heavy to hold inward. It’s moody and immersive, showcasing Isis’ talent for sculpting atmosphere and emotional weight with the production. There is a sharpness to this simmering tension that feels addictive and is complemented by a touch of Dominic Fike’s edge in its sound.

'tuesday in la (voice memo)'

This track disrupts the momentum of the EP in a thoughtful and intentional way. Its faded, stripped-back sound feels dreamlike, with minimal production and an acoustic softness. The voice memo format gives it a spontaneous quality that stands apart from the rest of the collection. Its sonic departure from the tracks prior almost prompts a double take, finding yourself checking that this is still the same track list, in the best way. This pause allows the listener to stop for a moment and breathe before being drawn back into the intensity. It highlights Isis’ versatility as an artist, and the fluidity in her sonic approach.

'LATELY'

The EP’s closing track 'LATELY' brings a return to this growing momentum and brings everything to a powerful head. The lyrics ‘why can’t you just grow up? Why don’t you just show up? Maybe I’m the problem’ explode with frustration and emotional exhaustion, when every buried thought and feeling of hurt comes surges at once with the inability to contain it once it is set in motion. It is a climactic moment in the EP that recalls that emotional punch of Billie Eilish’s ‘Happier Than Ever,’ where the music evokes a total emotional surrender. The track then transitions into a gentle, reflective ending, with piano and soft vocals bringing this journey to an intimate ending. The final lines ‘no one’s gonna save me / so maybe I’m just crazy… I promise that I’m changing, I’m changing’ reveals Isis at their most vulnerable, exposing their flaws and recognition of seeking and accepting change with unflinching honesty. This desire for growth offers a flicker of light right at the final moments, yet we are left with the quiet uncertainty of the unknown.

In just a few tracks, King Isis has achieved something deeply resonant with ‘SIRENITY’, a bold and emotionally layered body of work. Their fearless approach to confront chaos, willingness to not only expose but embrace vulnerability, and seek transformation sets them apart and leaves a lasting impression to the listener.