Partygirl is a trio from Brooklyn, New York and today they share their debut EP. As much as it’s an introduction, it’s also a taste of what partygirl strives to be: an act that looks to maximalise indie rock while discussing Survivorship and political, societal topics too. It is an open insight into what Pagona Kytzidis experienced and how she processes sexual assaults and resulting trauma. The act was also formed to focus on a better, brighter future, and this is illustrated wonderfully on this eponymous EP.
“I perform and write this music with a desperation to be a Self, to be My Self, in the totality of my experience, all the darkness, the intensity, the extremes, to be my biggest Self for all the times I was my smallest Self. This music is exercised as an avenue for the Possible.” – Pagona Kytzidis
‘I have’ opens with a gorgeous instrumental that utilises saxophones and guitars to boast a sound unlike no other. Layers are weaved together to create a listen filled with highs and lows. Horns that flow between melodies and intense, distorted riffs, while backed by dream-state piano keys and vocals that soar to the forefront. Lyrics that contradict themselves over and over again (“Haven’t smoked in a long time/I said as I let out a fume/But I smoked tonight/Just to be with you”), adding insecurity to an already intense setting. Building and building towards a massive finale. It is a phenomenal beginning, setting a high standard that is exceeded throughout the EP.
This rush of emotion floods through to ‘your eyes’, as lyrics capture a fragile mental state (“You’re on the table reminding me to see/That these cracks of wood climb the ceiling/Are not there to represent how I’m feeling”) alongside the tick-tocking of a clock throughout. Guitars make themselves heard but give space to piano chords and drums to produce a fittingly dramatic listen.
‘green faced liar’ eases on the volume, making way for a bassline to walk through soft layers of pianos and melodies to create this early-morning, hazy instrumental. The chorus rings with open honesty and light harmonies. It acts as a breather for ‘desirable’ – arguably the heaviest song on the EP. Lyrically, it details references to objectification and assault (“it’s good to know I’m desirable, I said, I wanted to say/Your words reek of epithets”) against sombre pianos, sad wails of horns and fuzzy guitar chords. It’s backed with anthemic drums and the vocals bleed with emotion throughout. Truly coming to a peak during the finale, which sounds like an absolute flood of emotions that have been revealed over the course of the EP so far but are really allowed to let loose here. It really is a powerful performance, one that makes you stop what you’re doing and focus entirely on it.
Maximising the limits of what it means to be an Indie Rock band, partygirl’s debut EP is a rollercoaster of a listen that takes trauma-touched experiences and converts them into songs that can fulfil any listener’s needs. It satisfies those who wish to connect to the lyrics and the heavy topics involved, but also those who simply wish to have their world filled by huge instrumentation. It is genuinely an astounding record and one that will be celebrated on the top of year end lists, and into the future. Coming from a little-known act from Brooklyn makes it that much sweeter. If you haven’t listened to it yet, then I absolutely implore you to do so, now.