Melanie Baker has released her new EP, Burnout Baby. Uninspired by the fast-paced nature of day-to-day life, the latest effort from the Newcastle artist offers six inspired songs that look to remind people of the joy in doing things at your own pace.
“This EP is about trying to keep up in a fast-paced, success-driven society and struggling with intense burnout. Writing and making this EP has been a slow process of healing for me and now all of these songs serve as reminders to do what I want and be who I wanna be.”
We’re introduced to this attempt to keep up by ‘This Won’t Be Pretty’. A short intro track that harnesses a lo-fi style to deliver an honest performance buoyed by subdued synths and Melanie’s open admission of an existential crisis. The quiet delivery of “I don’t know where I’m going” and “I don’t know anything” makes for a really intimate listen and sets up the themes of the EP nicely.
‘Double Decker Death Machine’ follows with a pairing of these melodic moments with an alt-rock edge. Hard hitting guitars ramp up the energy and batter the ears with their stop-start riffs, complete with Melanie delivering a poignant refrain in “don’t burnout, baby!”. It is undeniably catchy and sure to be a fan favourite. Singing along to this song live and letting go of those anxious feelings – even for a moment – would feel so good.
While it might be the most accessible song on the EP, ‘Waiting List’ is a real highlight. Setting aside the energetic guitars for a mellow, acoustic performance, the song feels so cathartic. Complete with easy-going melodies, and lyrics that detail the refusal of going to bed to keep tomorrow from coming, it copies the tempo of somebody who’s simply trying to survive the day. The inclusion of strings towards the end are beautiful and leads effortlessly into ‘I don’t cry like I used to’. A song that dives deeper into this weary mindset, plainly detailing being “tired of being tired of being tired” against acoustic strings that lulls in its despondent nature.
Closing out proceedings is ‘All My Plants Have Died’, another amped-up number that leaves things on a high. If there was somehow a need for more variety to be heard, this surely satisfies that craving. Starting off with a catchy intro, it soon spirals into a chaotic display of sprawling guitars and vocals that become increasingly frustrated as they try to be heard above them. It feels like a cannonball back into the real world and its unrelenting grind, and caps off what has already been a great listen with a superb ending.
Burnout Baby offers an insight into everything Melanie has been experiencing and delivers it in a way that is catchy, emotive, and full of variety. Each song details the intense anxiety and fear that comes with the feeling of burnout and does so in a way that doesn’t sound too overwhelming and forgoes any structure of genre. Instead opting to bring instrumentals that project the instability and hectic emotions wonderfully.
It is excellent, and feels like such an accomplished, complete EP. Melanie has delivered something that feels highly relatable and easy to connect to, while also serving as a reminder to also take a second to enjoy what’s around you, all within 21 minutes. One of my favourites of the year, for sure.