The artist explores themes like love, loss and life on his hopeful and powerful debut EP
With three of its six tracks already released as well-received and celebrated breakout singles that have already catapulted the artist into a revered songwriter and performer, Alwyn Morrison‘s debut EP Heartsplit is a collection of tracks that felt guaranteed to be a success ahead of its release and the artist has done a great job of living up to the hype and expectation.
The artist has grown known for his thoughtful and intimate appeal across his nostalgic pop-rock releases, and the EP’s opening track ‘A Mile a Minute’ showcased a bit more of a bite and hard-edged approach to his sound that makes for a really fun listening experience. The introspective lyrics are still there as he delves into a rollercoaster relationship that feels exciting and fresh, and the vibrant and fun appeal of the sound feels as intoxicating and dynamic as the love that he describes.
There is a nostalgic 90s-esque feel to ‘The City’, a track that sees Alwyn paying homage to his native New York City and its innate ability to build you up and break your heart, the track burning with a nostalgic sense of reverence and charm and moving, light-hearted appeal to it throughout.
‘Chained’ follows, a track that serves as the artist’s biggest success to date and it is easy to see why. From its thoughtful narrative that surrounds the struggles and challenges that come with loving with somebody suffering with depression, to emotionally charged nature of the artist’s vocal performance and the instrumentation, it makes for a really eye-opening and raw listening experience that leaves a powerful impression.
The artist’s reflective and nostalgic tendencies come back to the fore on ‘Lennox Hill’, a track that sees him looking fondly back over memories and good times against a subtle and moving soundscape that feels rewarding and atmospheric throughout. While his experiences are personal and real, there is a kind of universal appeal to looking back on summers and days that you wished would never end and the people and places that you spent them in.
‘Turn the Lights On’ is a groove-laden and impossibly catchy track that takes on an empowering and uplifting stance, imploring listeners to turn things around and make the most of their situations. It offers a really uplifting and charming listening experience that plays into his poppy strengths and the most invigorating nature of his sound, with the artist equally capable of inspiring euphoria and hope through his sound as he is pensive moments of reflection and introspection.
The EP closes out with the emotional ‘Maybe In Another World’, a track that sees him reflecting on what went wrong in a relationship and the belief that in other circumstances with a bit more luck they could have made things work. It is another showcase of this really reflective and human side to the artist’s sound and his innate ability to capture these relatable and resonating moments that strike a chord with you as a listener.
On the whole, Heartsplit is an EP that seems to focus on two themes, reflecting on the past and having hope and optimism for the future, with the tracks broaching these concepts through tales of optimism, resilience, loss and perseverance that feel absorbing and real. The personal and diaristic nature of Alwyn’s writing and the all-encompassing feel of his soundscapes do a great job of involving you in these narratives as a listener and keeping you feeling engaged, and speak to the power of being a great songwriter and artist.
