Lexie Carroll has released her new EP, you look lovely when you’re living. The London artist has experienced a pause in life. Battling with her mental health and living her adolescent years through a certain global pandemic isn’t the ideal time to do anything worthwhile, but rather than release a scathing record full of vitriol, Lexie decides to celebrate the little things. As she puts it, “as you get older things are much less black and white.”
From people living their lives, to highlighting the awkward/excited realisation of falling in love, to literally not making it to Glasgow, this EP documents the highs and lows of living, and revels in how silly it can be sometimes. Lead single ‘sunflood’ eases us into the record with a mellow performance. Slowly introducing blankets of synthesiser in with gently strummed guitars. It feels like being woken up by the arrival of sunshine through bedroom curtains. The softest nudge to begin the day.
‘it’s been a while’ follows. Written about the one who got away, it hits a little harder. With a touch of regret, its drums bring a direct beat to the ears. Coercing the other instruments to play with a little extra energy. Its building verses leads to a chorus that erupts with sound – swelling with strings and synths against driven percussion that really sounds great. It cuts a nice contrast with ‘laundry detergent’, a song that details all of the joy and anxiousness that comes with meeting – and falling in love – with somebody new. It maintains the fuzzy guitars, but comes with harmonies that sound composed and content with how things are going.
‘we never made it to glasgow’ offers the most immediate listen on the EP. Charging at you with a driven bassline and feisty guitars, the song converts the heavier sounds heard previously into a fun, hard-hitting tune that adds levity and joy to the EP. Hopefully Lexie and her crew make it to Glasgow one day.
Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate the everyday. Things become routine, a part of muscle memory that doesn’t involve any thinking. What Lexie does on this EP is remind us to take a second; to enjoy the patience in waiting for the kettle to boil or admire the sounds of the outside while waiting for the dog to come back inside from the garden. You look lovely when you’re living reflects the mundane things Lexie enjoys but also highlights the power of emotion and interaction with people too. It serves as a lesson to enjoy the small stuff. It is brilliant, fragile, vulnerable and all encompassing. One of the most complete, best EPs of the year.