She is the new EP from Emily Magpie. Having received praise from the likes of BBC 6Music, Emily utilises her blend of otherworldly and ethereal sounds to deliver a listening experience that lasts far beyond its modest three songs.
“I created this EP to explore my own experience of being a woman- which is beautiful and messy! I wanted to extend this out in a universal way to others, all with their own unique stories and voices.” Says Emily. “The feminine, which exists outside of gender. There’s beauty, celebration, darkness and the unknown. Feminine energy is badass and there’s a massive history of it being suppressed which it’s important to challenge by us being heard.”
Lead single ‘She Said’ kicks off the EP by delivering this defiance in full force. The repeated title acts a firm hook in an instrumental that constantly changes. Flowing through layers of guitars, synths, and percussion to flood the room with a summery feel. As Emily’s voice swells and grows, the song builds and builds to bring a real energy into the mix that makes for great listening.
This energy mellows out as it sinks into ‘Down in the Deep’. A tune that highlights Emily’s ability to craft intriguing atmospheres. Its deep bass notes and wandering harmonies gives off Radiohead vibes, but Emily’s vocals add a purity to them that helps take the edge away from them. It doesn’t follow a structure, and acts as an ambient piece that bridges the gap between ‘She Said’ and the EP’s closer, ‘Blistered Tongue’.
Four minutes of what appears to be a downward spiral of falling keys and harmonies, ‘Blistered Tongue’ illustrates the suppression Emily mentions above. While sounding more structured, the song begins to unravel with waves of vocals and melodies contending to be heard. This looseness is upholstered by drums that stick rigidly to the beat, allowing loads of tension to build throughout. Especially when those deep bass notes from ‘Down in the Deep’ return.
Emily Magpie has produced something great in She. In spite of its short timeframe, the EP manages to make a big impression. Ten minutes to envelop you in its world, that seems to be either brighter than the sun or deep in the depths. A pretty impressive range explored in so little time, and I can’t wait to hear where Emily goes next.