EP Review: Abbie Ozard - 'let's play pretend'

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Manchester’s beachy indie treasure Abbie Ozard turns escapism into a healthy coping mechanism on 90s-tinged new EP ‘let’s play pretend’.

An EP that stays true to its name, ‘Let’s Play Pretend’ is packed to the brim with bright soundscapes and synth-induced euphoria that calls on hazy memories of the before. It’s a record that, with its rose-tinted glasses, feels somehow at odds with a much harsher reality, yet fits perfectly into the Gen-Z zeitgeist of main character syndrome. On four immaculate tracks, Abbie flexes her songwriting muscles and creates picture perfect teen-movie scenes. Reminiscent of cult classics like ’16 Candles’ or ‘Clueless’, ‘Let’s Play Pretend’ feels timeless in the way soaring rhythms wrap around clever lyricism to form bundles of fun-filled nostalgia. “This whole EP is me romanticising my life. It took me a while to realise this as I considered each tune to be so separate. But after a late night of thinking, it dawned on me that each song on the EP is literally just me playing pretend,” Abbie reveals. 

‘Let’s Play Pretend’ does a wonderful job at capturing the infinity of youth, of love, of friendship in bubbly vocals and gritty dreamscapes. But once you shake off the rosy melodies and start paying attention to the record’s lyrics, you quickly realise: it’s all an illusion. Each track has a false back. The only time Abbie allows a peak behind the peachy curtain is closing track ‘breakdowns’ – a song that gives a peak into the very reality we’re all running from. “Everything is a let-down, stressing ain’t no use. Everyone’s having breakdowns ‘cause it’s the thing to do,” Abbie sings, her observational lyricism drenched in sarcasm – another popular coping mechanism. There is certainly a theme running through this deceivingly joyous EP that Abbie is only too happy to point out for us: “I just want people to know that it’s totally okay for them to pretend they’re in a separate airy fairy world, like why not?! The world is too much of a dark place not to!”

‘Let’s Play Pretend’ is a stunning collection of sonic blueprints for maladaptive daydreaming, an instruction manual for looking on the bright side. Abbie Ozard may never be a “TV Kween” but, with her gorgeous vocals and a true gift for wistful storytelling, she is most definitely an important pillar for future generations of pop. 

Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven


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