EP Review: April - 'Luna'
Following the success of debut EP ‘New Conditions’, rising Irish singer songwriter April shares second EP ‘Luna’.
A marvellous addition to the intricacy of ‘New Conditions’,‘Luna’ showcases a more mature take on songwriting. Wrapped into atmospheric soundscapes and lo-fi beats, the EP thrills with a captivating sense of intimacy. Each of the four tracks comes with its own unique blend of emotions, spanning from dreamy opener ‘Forever (To Feel Like Tonight)’ over the gentle, loving breeze of title track ‘Luna’ to ‘Watching You Disappear’’s soaring rhythms. “’Luna’ is a step forward from ‘New Conditions’ for me - I definitely feel like I’m maturing as an artist, and this EP feels more like me now than the last,” April explains. “I’m definitely still experimenting and finding my sound; I love so many genres it’s hard to just stick to one and it was exciting that I got to try different things this time.” Closing track ‘Would You Let Me In’ brings the EP full circle. Slow moving vocals go hand in hand with dark, sensual beats, effortlessly bringing to life the inner conflict of temptation – “I’m selfish and devoted, I will shut out all emotion, don’t want anyone to notice. I dream about confession, how nice that it would be to sit with you without this tension.”
The beauty of genre-bending is that, more often than not, the result is brilliantly timeless. Sprinkled with clever hooks, captivating vocals and sharp, confessional lyricism, ‘Luna’ packs something for every taste. This EP is a clear statement of intent. Not only an ode to April’s intoxicating brand of bedroom pop, but a glimpse of a promising future. Talking about her hopes and aspirations, April stays humble: “The first EP came out at a weird time, I didn’t get to gig and connect with crowds but it honestly just made me more excited for when I can - and now, I will have 2 EPs out by the time I can gig again!”
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven