EP Review: Tatum - 'Bloodsport'
South African alt-pop artist Tatum releases her debut EP ‘Bloodsport’ – a collection of Lana meets Lorde stylised dark pop songs.
‘Bloodsport’ is a coming of age story. On five songs spanning the full spectrum of melancholy and melodrama, it explores the beauty in heartbreak, the sweetness in tragedy.
Stunning opener ‘Broken’ pulls you under, deep into the hypnotic waters of Tatum’s dark magic brand of sound while closing number ‘Youngblood’ spits you back out, haunted by rich, gorgeous vocals and an ache for more.
Framed by these intensely beautiful tracks, the rest of the EP creates a cinematic soundscape, painting vivid pictures of the terrors of love through enchanting, emotive melodies and finely crafted lyricism - “Silence did the killing and I hate you for the things you have changed forever in me (‘Fever’).
‘Bloodsport’ is a worthy debut for an artist bursting with potential. It’s an EP that makes you sit completely transfixed by Tatum’s magnetic take on dark pop, a piece of art that glows deep red in solidarity with the broken hearts it’s about to mend.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven