EP Review: Etta Marcus – 'Heart-Shaped Bruise'
Amidst an uptick in 'sad girl pop', Brixton-born Etta Marcus brings a streak of originality and style to the genre.
At only 21, Etta Marcus possesses a captivating ability to weave complex emotions into her music. The inspirations behind her sound are evident–a Phoebe Bridgers-ism here, an Olivia Rodrigo-styled self-deprecation there–but Marcus's new EP, 'Heart-Shaped Bruise', transcends its influences by never sounding derivative.
'Heart-Shaped Bruise' explores the anxieties and insecurities that populate teenagerhood with a heart-rending intimacy. The EP's title track showcases Marcus at her best, with her rich, otherworldly vocals brought down to earth by a visceral central image: "There's a heart-shaped bruise / And at night, I reach my hand out and feel it with my finger".
The cinematic quality of Marcus's music seems at odds with the highly individualised nature of its self-conscious circling. More so than its predecessor, 'View from the Bridge', this EP boasts experimentative production, with synths, strings and indie riffs alternately underpinning the vocals. But Marcus's knack for finger-on-the-pulse lyricism always takes centre stage.
On 'Nosebleed', she doesn't shy away from casting herself as a villain: "I am the bitch that broke your nose / I bet you sleep with a dark red pillow", and 'Crown' is a light guitar-led track whose lyrics angelically seethe with desire for revenge.
Similarly, 'Smile For The Camera' is deceptively upbeat in depicting a deep sadness that permeates every social occasion: "Cutting the cake at your birthday / Your job promotion that we celebrate / I can't even smile for the camera".
In a press release for the EP, Marcus described the nature of her new music as "gritty, unfiltered, and unhinged". "I wanted to capture an honesty in this body of work that included the more brutal side of things we usually keep hidden away and feel embarrassed about."
This ability and willingness to mine deeply for emotions that feel doubly private and collectively resonant make Marcus an exciting new talent and one to keep an eye on.
You can stream 'Heart-Shaped Bruise' now and buy tickets for Etta Marcus's UK tour here.
Words by Eleanor Burleigh
