Bristol singer-songwriter Elly Hopkins makes a hanging debut with Animal, a five-track EP that fuses rock charisma, Americana heat, and soulful lyricism. Having honed her voice on main UK levels together with the Royal Albert Corridor, Glastonbury, and Boomtown, Hopkins now delivers an EP that succeeds with its heartfelt songwriting and spectacular vocal performances. Mixing rootsy rock, folks, and soul inflections, Hopkins brings memorable storytelling and a particular sound.
Opening the EP with a warming, soulful ardour, “Cecile” progresses from breezy guitar pulses and lightweight percussion into Hopkins’ sweltering vocal immersion. “Cecile, your identify reached these shores earlier than you probably did,” her vocals resonate, bolstered by ghostly organs while asking “does it ever get a bit of lonesome on excessive?” — total framing a story across the titular character, and their magnetic appeal, intoxicating attract, and thrilling potential to captivate everybody of their orbit.
The following EP title observe continues the gripping, from-the-heart songwriting — on this case pondering existential reflection with visceral vulnerability. The one-two punch of “Cecile” and “Animal” show thematically riveting, the previous portraying a semblance of perfection and beliefs, whereas the latter reckons with the very mortal points of being human. “Kintsugi” arrives subsequent, its twangy guitars and atmospheric synth adornments complementing one other sturdy vocal efficiency. Its major chorus — the energetic “in Japan they fill the gaps with gold, handle damaged issues” — reveals a reverence for restoration and persistence, in a world stuffed with hectic tumult.
“Bets” is one other charmer, weaving lush guitar jangling and “I’ll keep up till you go to sleep” reassurances with hovering moments of symphonic glowing. EP finale “One Man Band” caps it off with infectious enchantment, pushed by a bouncy bass line and easily ascending vocal fervency. Ooh-ing backing vocals and rock-ready vigor thrives thereafter, being one other show of Hopkins’ dynamic, emotively impactful songwriting — on show all through the implausible Animal EP, which is out on November twenty first.
