EP Review: Alex Frew – 'Cobalt'
Following a string of impressive singles last year, Canadian singer songwriter Alex Frew flexes his melodic pop muscles on highly anticipated debut EP ‘Cobalt’.
There are a lot of things you can do over the course of an EP; you can lift moods or bring them down, you can move to tears or put a smile on the sourest of faces. With ‘Cobalt’, Alex Frew opted for an out-of-body experience. “I want people to feel a little bit bigger than themselves while listening to the project,” he says. “I’ve always gravitated towards songs that made me feel boundless, and I sincerely hope that this collection can convey those emotions.”
What is there to say except ‘mission achieved’. Only a couple of seconds into atmospheric opening track ‘Midnight Zone’, it’s evident that Alex has a talent for building captivating worlds out of soaring electronica and warm, inviting vocals. Sprinkled with a healthy dose of self-reflection, Alex’s superpower might just be his lyricism that is in equal measure mature and delicately emotive. Driven by syncopated beats and intoxicating rhythms, each track thrills with a different kind of euphoria. Some dangerously addictive like bass-driven ‘Something To Hold On To’, others a little more subtle but not any less sparkling. “You can’t be high if you’ve never been down,” Alex sings on ‘9 Feet Tall’, putting into words the poetic ethos of his debut record. Its six introspective tracks clearly show that, in his 19 years, Alex has already learned an important life lesson - balancing the good with the bad, the light with the dark, and appreciating both for what they are. An existential mindset that is again reflected in the EP title. As Alex explains: “The colour Cobalt represents the moody, blue emotion that inspired the creation of this project, and has stuck with me for the past several years.”
‘Cobalt’ takes you on a journey through adolescence, acknowledging its highs and its downfalls. It takes you past introversion and depression, crossing substance abuse and romance and drops you off at the intersection of heartbreak and anxiety with one final word of advice: ‘Get Out Alive’; a track that hits you with a full dose of Alex’s lyrical prowess just in case you weren’t already in awe of his simple eloquence.
As far as debut EPs go, ‘Cobalt’ ticks all the boxes. It’s intelligent and poignant without sacrificing any of its catchiness and streamability. Combining the fizzing urgency of his lyricism with a mesmerisingly dark production, Alex Frew not only encompasses the complex emotions of growing up, he effortlessly sets himself apart as a key player in the dream pop game.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven