Well, well, well, this feels like watching your child head out the door for their first day of school, or tucking into their first big mac. Today, Amie Jay releases her debut EP. Cancer Sun is the result of years of tinkering with a sound until it’s time to properly meet our earholes. “Hello there, earholes, nice to meet you!” I can imagine it saying.
Cancer Sun is built off of Amie’s zodiac sign. Drawing influence from all four corners to deliver four songs that are all very much different from each other. Held together by a musical twine composed of the open-book honesty of the lyrics. ‘Unashamed’ leads the way, kicking things off with a bang. The sudden intro continues to catch me off guard, and I can’t get over how well it flows with its driven guitars and grittier tone matching up with its venomous lyrics. For how it discusses the notion of being easily replaced in a relationship, it sure is catchy.
The title track follows with an even bolder approach. Packing a punch in all departments to leave a lasting impression in roughly two minutes. Instrumentally it booms with massive synths and percussion. Accompanied by waves of acoustic guitar and harmonies to really build upon this epic scale. Amie’s vocals contend with it well, dropping a painful line or two that leave their own impact too. “I’m every man’s most tragic mistake” – jeez.
Song of the summer and my personal favourite, ‘Sweet Nostalgia’ follows sounding as good as ever. Sunkissed synths pair up with hazy guitars and deep-rooted basslines to deliver one of the most accessible instrumentals of the year. It is hard to not have a foot or two (or three!) bouncing along to it. It’s throwback sound really does wonders at bringing some energy back into the EP.
‘Start Again’ closes out the EP with an instrumental that reflects. Soft, acoustic chords are heard as synths and harmonies dissipate into the air. It feels like a classic final song on a record – its chorus sounds defiant against all of the bad times Amie has felt. It is great.
This is the most complete I’ve heard Amie’s music be, and it’s great to see. Cancer Sun is her biggest and best project yet, and I hope it is the start of more material produced in a similar way. The EP is an honest insight into her life and experiences, and despite sounding so disjointed, it really does come together to be a really well-rounded listen. There are bops that make you feel good, bops that make you feel sad, and bops that will make you wish to return to their second or third big mac. No shame in it at all. Who’s got uber eats?