But Bridgers could care less about the fame creeping up on her – she is focused on her music and her music only. If her debut EP wasn’t enough of an indicator that this singer isn’t amused by bubbly pop albums, Stranger in the Alps will convince you. She takes an unexpected turn into the pop world – she talks about real, serious, scary issues.

Let me warn you: you have to be in a certain mood to appreciate Bridgers’ music. Her voice, sure – that will always sound like soft ripples in a pond on a spring afternoon, but her music in its entirety -that is something different. For such a small person, Bridgers can be insanely heavy.

All three tracks on her EP, Killer, mention death in some way, shape or form. The title itself clearly points to an intense album. Each song includes lyrics with the words “dying” or “death” or phrases like “pull the plug”. I’m not saying that you need to be fascinated by death to enjoy Bridgers’ music.

You simply need to be tired or in the mood to shed a few tears. So, don’t listen to this while you’re getting ready for a night out. Save it for when you’re walking home alone or lying in bed pining over someone. This is music for those who like to enhance their sadness – the sensation seekers.

Stranger in the Alps begins with a soaring ballad, “Smoke Signals”, that may just be the star of the album. The chorus is full of swooping violins and a deep guitar that enhances the eerie sensation created in this track while Bridgers watches TV in a Holiday Inn “Where somebody else makes the bed”. The closest Bridgers comes to mainstream pop is during “Motion Sickness”.

Her falsetto swings through this track above a pleasant instrumental, a necessary break from the dark strings that fill most of the album. This airy sing-along reminds me of a young Ingrid Michelson whispering lovely lullabies into our ears.

Next is maybe the most memorable song off of the album, due to its sheer sadness. “Funeral” details Bridgers’ struggle with singing at a funeral of a “kid a year older than me”. She confesses her own thoughts about death, and more specifically, suicide. It’s tough to listen to, but brutally honest and beautifully sung. A tinge of country is present in the guitar and slight twang of Bridgers’ voice as she cries, “Jesus Christ I’m so blue all the time”.

Other gems on the album include “Demi Moore”, a simple tune full of melancholy “ooo”s and a constant whistling above soft banjos and Bridgers’ voice. “Killer” and “Georgia” make appearances again, but this time “Georgia” is revamped – in a bad way.

This busier version takes away from the simplicity that made the original such a powerful statement. But overall, Stranger in the Alps showcases a young artist with a lot of potential. Bridgers is a dark, tender soul whose bedroom tunes are consistently emotional and beautiful mostly because of her endearing voice.

I had the chance to see Bridgers in Nashville, TN las fall in a dimly lit, intimate venue. My friend and were two of maybe forty people scattered around the place, most gathering near the bar or chatting in booths lining the room. But my friend and I, we hung onto every word Bridgers sang into the microphone, standing there in her black dress and combat boots, blonde bob falling in front of her eyes.

After her set, she pranced around the room with a big smile on her face, mingling with everyone, seemingly a social, confident young woman. Her intense music contrasts this image, but maybe that’s what makes her even more relatable – we’re all putting on a show.

The Alt Rock Chick highlights the best Alternative Rock music out there.

The post The Alt Rock Chick: Phoebe Bridgers appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The singer and songwriter, Sevdaliza, is rather off the grid as of now.

Searching for her biography information is next to impossible. The only information available is that she was born in Iran and moved to The Netherlands at a young age. She emerged on the scene with her first official release, as well as a few tracks on Youtube and SoundCloud, with her video “Clear the Air,” which was featured on the website Pigeons and Planes in addition to the only biographical information online.

Sevdaliza released her most recent EP, Children of Silk, on November 24th of this year on SoundCloud. This was after another EP called The Suspended Kid, and several singles were uploaded to the website.

If you’re interested in artists like The Weeknd and Lana del Rey, then Sevdaliza’s sound is perfect for you. The EP, Children of Silk, is equal parts soothing, sensual, and haunting.

The EP begins with a song called, “The Inside.” Solely her voice and piano chords are present in the first few seconds of the song. The dissonant vocal tones prepare for a chilling sentiment through the end. The consistent and driving singular piano note adds to the eerie air. Eventually, an electronic keyboard and drum kit enter the mix and bring the soothing and sensual feel to the forefront. Near the end of the song, the notes of the piano begin to drop an added layer of dissonance. The lyrics are incredibly simple at only 12 lines with no more than 4 words in a stanza, which fits the track’s focus on the musical aspects.

There’s also a fairly strange music video paired with the song (which is NSFW):

“Amandine Insensible” is the proceeding track on Children of Silk. Quite possibly the most haunting moment of the entire EP is in the beginning of this song. This is a trickling down of piano notes that leads into the moment of which Sevdaliza reminded me of a mixture between Dido and The Weeknd, if there is such a thing. The beat of this song is reminiscent of “White Flag” by Dido, which includes a minute relation in the vocals, though they’re not entirely a similar sound. The slow tempo and melody create an intense sensuality that I’ve only ever discovered in The Weeknd’s earlier tracks before their mainstream appearance.

The penultimate song of Sevdaliza’s short EP is “Marilyn Monroe.” The beat of the previous song carries over to solidify a dark form of R&B, which is similar to The Weeknd’s sound, if not even more so. This track is specifically reminiscent of “What You Need” by The Weeknd. The haunting qualities are still present, though only slightly so, due to it being the most sensual song of the EP. In contrast, the lyrics of this track are rather sad. Sevdaliza sings, “I’m tryin’ to fix myself / And not care / Too much about you.” An underlying theme of empowerment outside of codependent relationships is refreshing in the midst of a sea of ballads that perpetuate the idea of dependency.

Lastly, Children of Silk features “Men of Glass” with a featured artist by the name of Rome Fortune. Sevdaliza ends the album with a soft violin sound as she croons the repeating line “This man of mine,” a rather possessive lyric. Rome Fortune eventually chimes in while rapping lines that seem to represent the man that needs to be fixed in the song prior. The lyrics speak to a sense of self-worthlessness. The song is rather slow and simple, though this could be my opinion peaking through. I prefer the other songs because of the way they’re unconventionality situated in the R&B genre, meaning that they bring that innovative haunting quality to the forefront while maintaining a simple and steady beat.

Sevdaliza’s EP Children of Silk was just, for lack of other wording because I’m so impressed, so fucking cool. She somehow mixes chill and soothing music, perfect for studying, with a dissonant and haunting quality that is wrapped with a bow of immense sensuality. If you like the R&B genre, or any of the musicians/artists mentioned above, definitely check this EP out, including her singles.

The post Album Review: “Children of Silk” by Sevdaliza appeared first on KRUI Radio.