With vibes marrying The Maine and emo songs written for a boy band, Surrey's new dirty pop outfit Maggie Cassidy's five-track debut EP, 'Life is Beautiful', finds the perfect balance between heartfelt pain and unshakable melodies you can’t help but bop along to.
The release couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time, especially the EP’s lead single, ‘S.A.D.’, given the current world pandemic. While the song is written about Seasonal Affective Disorder, it is easily interpreted in a way that is undoubtedly very relatable for far too many in these strange times.
Guitarist Jan-Erik Barnegren elaborates on the EP, saying: “It’s about finding the silver linings and seeing the world for what it is. Life is a lot of things, but it’s also beautiful.”
Opener ‘Tell Me Why’ may be a song about self-harm and suicide, but reoccurring themes of depression and loneliness, across the EP, are juxtaposed with the upbeat melodies, pulsating guitars and one hell of a catchy chorus.
The only exception to the above is closer ‘You Don’t Excite Me’, the stripped-back tearjerker completely resets the energy of the EP. While a song to break up the pace is normally a welcome addition to a release, it doesn't quite make the impact on such a short collection.
All in all, 'Life Is Beautiful' is a promising debut for Maggie Cassidy, and we can’t wait to see what other emo-pop concoctions they have to offer in the future.
For Fans Of: The Maine, Hot Milk, Boston Manor
Rating: 8/10
Release date: 31.07.20
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