The exciting rising artist’s most cathartic and creative sensibilities shine through this emotionally charged debut EP
Establishing himself as a cutting edge rising artist in alternative rock thanks to his cutting edge, modern sound and thoughtful songwriting, Houston singer-songwriter Nate Vickers is somebody who has won other a plethora of admirers over the last few years with his output of singles, and has now released the most expansive and realised showcase of his appeal with his debut single A Little Too Late.
The collection of track’s kicks off with its impactful title track, featuring a Nate who has been pushed to his breaking point in a relationship and is putting his foot down and deciding that enough is enough. The emotional power of the artist’s grungy vocals and the crashing instrumental makes for a package that instantly connects with you as a listener, and sets the tone for an impactful EP with more than its fair share of big moments.
‘I’d Rather D*e’ follows, a track that has a more pop punk feel to it stylistically while being anchored by the same emotional core and power as its predecessor. The track and EP at large’s marriage of hard-hitting instrumentation and melodies while having such lush, polished production feels like it evokes the spirit of bands like Bring Me The Horizon and Architects, two bands who’s boundary pushing dynamism has found a worthy contemporary in this release.
The soulful crooning of ‘Over & Over’ sees things shift gears a little bit before giving way to its building tension and exploding into another ferociously catchy and impactful chorus that is sure to stick with you for long after your exposure to the album. The emotion spilling over into some rare screamed vocals really ramps up the tension and power that is being conveyed here, and the scarceness and rarity in which it is used makes it feel all the more visceral and exciting.
The most popular track on the EP follows in the form of ‘I’m Fine’, a track that is threatening to already bypass a million streams on Spotify alone. Nate does a really great job of juxtaposing his softer and more considered moments with these bouts of catharsis and release that makes the thoughtful lyrics hit so much harder, A Little Too Late is nothing if not an album of contrasts and shifting emotions, a release that anybody going through turbulent times or hardships in relationships or life will find a really rewarding listen.
‘Bury Me’ closes things out (aside for two acoustic versions of ‘Over & Over’ and the track itself), and is a track that really allows the artist’s vocal talents to shine. A subdued piano is Nate’s only accompaniment at times early on, and lyrics surrounding themes like mental health, falling apart, and trying to keep your head above water do a great job of encapsulating some of the themes and narratives explored throughout the EP. There is just something throughout the collection of tracks and how they’re presented that feels so liberating and cathartic, like these are thoughts and feelings that have been weighing the artist down and this is the best outlet that he has. Both emotional and thoughtful, polished and unmistakably raw, hard-hitting and nuanced, everything about A Little Too Late has a real balance to it, while the heart and soul of the artist shines through every facet of it regardless.
