The alluring artist explores the different facets of daily life and relationships on her thoughtful new EP
Combining the playful catchiness of indie pop and the reflective and thoughtful allure of indie-folk, Ellie Walker is an artist who’s work is built upon its raw and personal qualities rather than any bells and whistles or theatrics, and it makes it really easy to resonate with her sounds and words as a result thanks to her authenticity and charm as an artist. The artist’s new release The Balance EP is a collection of tracks that do a great job of delving into some poignant emotions while highlighting everything that makes Ellie and her style feel so welcoming and strong.
The EP opens with ‘The Balance’, a track that melds thoughtful, optimistic lyrics with an effortlessly fun and playful soundscape that has a bouncy, likeable charm to it throughout. The track is an immediate showcase of the warmth that the artist possesses, and it feels hard not to get swept up in how homely and authentic her sound feels and the personable allure that her vocals and instrumentation bring, articulating the chaotic yet personal world of family life in a way that feels both fun and rooted in reality.
‘The Old Oak’ pushes things into more introspective and sombre territory, exploring themes like mental health and resilience in a way that grips you from the moment that it starts. The potent refrain of “just hold on” does a great job of encapsulating the struggles that so many people face as a result of such hardships, and the piano and Ellie’s emotionally wrought vocal performance do an incredible job of providing the track with the reverence and heft that it deserves, making for a compelling, darker moment on the EP.
This is followed by ‘Let Me Go’, a sprint of a track that feels restless and intense throughout its duration, showcasing another facet to the artist’s sound and continuing to underscore her ambitious and wide-reaching appeal. Themes of forgiveness and an impactful conflict up the stakes on a track that already feels charged and exciting, and it makes for a listening experience that pulls you into her sonic world for a whirlwind journey.
A wide range of themes and dynamics are explored on the EP across its four tracks, and its closer ‘One Day’ offers a vulnerability that cuts through and makes for possibly the most enduring and memorable moment across the collection of tracks. The track feels like an exploration of the artist’s relationships and the mixed and often difficult feelings that they can leave you with, and the way that she opens up in a way that feels so rousing and climatic to close the album out feels inspired, creating a finish that feels both heartbreaking and moving in equal fashion.
The EP does a great job exploring different facets of life that so many of us encounter on a regular basis, from family, to relationships, to mental health, and the perseverance and strength that we find to broach each of them and do the best we can. The title The Balance EP feels fitting in the way that we balance all of these factors and facets of our lives and try to stay afloat and keep our heads above water, and Ellie’s distinctive perspective on these situations offers a journey that feels both personal and universal, making for a varied and engrossing listen that is packed full of immersive moments.
