Way back in October, we were blown away by the return of Amie Jay, who brought a shift in sound and attitude with ‘Unashamed’ alongside news of an upcoming EP. Seriously, who is she? Gone were the days of acoustic-led ballads that tore at the heartstrings, the time has come for groove to swing from them instead. It certainly made me yelp in surprise, but not nearly as much as the Londoner’s newest hit, ‘Sweet Nostalgia’. Oh baby, it’s good.
Working once again alongside Marble Empire, who assisted with the new style heard on ‘Unashamed’, Amie Jay lays down another funk-filled number that is undeniably catchy. A sun-kissed instrumental fills the room with its throwback sound, bringing all sorts of hooks to the ears. It’s the mellowed-out, less angry cousin of ‘Unashamed’. Keeping the driving basslines but aiming them at the hips rather than the head this time.
As much as the instrumental grabs you initially, it’s the lyrics that keep you coming back. A strong theme of nostalgia and an inability to focus on the forward weaves between the sunny layers of sound, creating a melancholy vibe that goes against the upbeat sound. It’s a nice contrast and produces an effortlessly catchy chorus.
‘Sweet Nostalgia’ is superb, and one that elevates the decision to shake things up for the latest set of releases. I can really see myself cruising along the beach to this badboy. It works really well as the cooler head against ‘Unashamed’, which together bring a ton of variation and ideas that make me excited to hear more from this upcoming EP. This is a great time to be an Amie Jay fan.