EP Review: Amber Jay - 'Never Too Far From A Dark Thought'
All beginnings are hard and curating a debut EP that reflects your sonic identity can be even harder but, with ‘Never Too Far From A Dark Thought’, bedroom pop wunderkind Amber Jay has only gone and surpassed all expectations.
Spanning five equally captivating yet astonishingly eclectic tracks, she creates a musical universe that introduces the different aspects of her music whilst not straying too far from her intoxicating brand of sound that previous releases like ‘Pencilled Brims’ and ‘Stay The Same’ had us falling head over heels for. Listening to ‘Never Too Far From A Dark Thought’ feels like reading a good book or watching a wonderfully immersive film as each song tells its own captivating story, switching tone so seamlessly that it’s hard to tell where one ends and another begins.
As emotive as it is imaginative, the record seems to have a mind and a heart of its own. “The EP really just forced itself into the world,” Amber explains. “I didn't plan to make it but after recording 'Stay The Same' it all made so much sense that this body of work needed to be made. I had a handful of songs full of heart and atmosphere, that I knew I wanted to give out one day, but it really felt like the universe took me and put me in all the right places to make them into the form they are today. The EP has such an energy and is packed with my personality and vulnerability which is scary and exciting all at the same time. This collection of tracks has compacted into what I feel is a solid foundation that I want to grow and build upon as I go forward.”
Personality and vulnerability. It’s these two traits that really shine through on all of Amber’s expertly crafted works. Most notably on ‘The House’ and closing track ‘Person’. But though they share a common thread, both tracks follow a different storyline. ‘The House’ sparkles with reverb-soaked vocals and otherworldly electronica, living in a haunting, slightly menacing atmosphere laced with tension. As Amber explains: “It explores the idea of being caught in a crossroads, when you have to decide whether to continue to live in a way in which is to please others but pains yourself and confronts the discomfort of admitting the truth.” ‘Person’, however, is the complete opposite: Slow and gentle, raw and so full of sorrow it makes you want to fall to your knees as Amber’s confessional lyricism takes a hold of your heart and squeezes tightly - “take my body, my brain, they don’t deserve life knowing I’ve caused you pain.” Talking about the inspiration behind ‘Person’, she says: “This song is me being super honest and vulnerable and I can't really believe I'm putting it out for people to hear. I really love the song and I cried my eyes out writing it. I think it's so sad because it's not a classic 'break up song.' It's about noticing the love starting to seep out like you're trying to cup water in your hands and there's no way to stop it draining painfully slowly through the gaps between your fingers”.
Progressive and excitingly immersive, ‘Never Too Far From A Dark Thought’ is everything we could have hoped for and more. Amber not only homes in on her dark bedroom pop sound, she pushes sonic boundaries and creates an atmospheric masterpiece that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. With such a stellar debut, it’s only a matter of time until Amber Jay takes her rightful place at the top of the indie charts.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven