Unapologetic songstress Tay Temple has returned with an explosive EP that only solidifies her position as one of the most exciting up-and-coming artists in the UK, with a fighting spirit present across the entirety of the tracks that really show her determination and prowess as an artist.
Each of the tracks has its own sense of identity, but they are interconnected through Tay’s musical style, a grungy, alternative rock genre with singer-songwriter roots that set her apart from the rest. Her lyrical capability and raw, personal and honest songwriting are only exemplified by the musical ability and connection of her band.
The first track “Still Here” is an unapologetic fiery burst of passion, a huge introduction to the EP with its powerful, grungey undertones. The track is a real outpour of feeling, a huge question posed to Tay’s romantic interest asking for clarity – whilst balancing the desires of love whilst simultaneously avoiding the stereotypical relationship that has been printed into society. The aggressive nature of the track sets it as one of the heaviest on the record, but it perfectly depicts the topic of the lyrics, a real proof of her songwriting ability, and the band’s ability to match her energy.
“Ain’t Me” follows, a desperate call to help from the constraints of society, working life and the media. It retains the lyrical proficiency of the first track, with a real clear image of Tay’s situation, the confusion that she is experiencing with the mundane and repetitive routine of her life, and the expectations that are put on her as a young woman in the society of today. The guitarwork in this track from lead guitarist Jordi is luscious, creating a dream-like atmosphere around the space, adding to the blur and confusion that Tay is depicting through her lyrics. The loose and driving rhythm only furthers this – really creating a soundscape that is reflective of the song’s theme.
The grunginess in these two opening songs really shows how far Tay and her band have come in terms of their sound, moving away from the acoustic singer-songwriter elements that she had in her first EP and to a darker, angrier and more mature state.
The title track of the EP, “I Can See Everything”, opens back up with an acoustic guitar, and a more relaxed element, and as she sings the opening lyrics, you feel that she has a reflection upon her previous release, but it suddenly jolts into her modern style, proving that she’s come all this way. The flow of the track here is gorgeous, the chorus is massive, with the lead guitar complimenting Tay’s vocal melodies in perfect harmony, and the bassline and drums maintaining a steady yet explosive backdrop for the track. The song only continues with the topic of Tay’s struggle with the expectations of society, seen in the lyric “The lights are shining, with the broken mirror you use, to try to convince us of anything but the truth” – an apt reflection of the way that the media, political figures and even tradition attempts to disguise anything that is deviating away from their viewpoints. The main lyric shows Tay’s outlook, she’s able to see the situation finally for what it is – again, proving the maturity shown throughout this release. The track ends in luscious chaos, with her vocal and the lead guitar battling throughout that last chorus, only to end in a wave of distortion and noise.
The next track “Lost Myself Again” takes a more calm and relaxed approach, it’s a hugely mellower song that returns to an introspective stance – depicting the struggle with a wavering mental state, feeling that you aren’t able to progress, yet thinking this lapse in progress is actually part of the process, and that it is necessary to proceed. The second verse is a beautiful lyrical balance to the first, opening up with a contrasting line, but falling back to that initial self-doubt that was present in the first verse. The backing vocals in the chorus and the bridge really give it a huge sound, almost giving a feel that not only does Tay struggle here, but there is a plethora of people who experience these thoughts and that she’s not alone in this predicament. It’s a beautiful song, depicting her struggles poetically, whilst at the same time creating a sense of hope for the listener, in that there are better times coming and that there must be lows in order for there to be highs.
The penultimate track “Sunglasses” sees Tay return to a punky, grungey sound – proving that the rage and power behind her is still intact. Opening with the line “I’m sick of uneducated men, who prance around like nothing affects them”, you can tell she’s down for business. It’s an anthem for those who have been pushed to the side, who no one cares for, and whose cries fall upon deaf ears. The ferocity of this track is unparalleled, with Tay singing at the top of her voice over a huge and violent soundscape – it’s a real call-out to the manipulators, the abusers and the selfish within society. Her sound here is reminiscent of 90’s riot grrrl bands, who were avidly going out to make songs and raise awareness of the treatment of women in society; a topic that Tay is referring to in this song throughout. The huge sound behind her only gives her a real pedestal to shout from, the band working in perfect unison to provide her with a real sense of support. This song is a perfect representation of Tay’s personality, her ferocity and passion for that which she cares about, and how unapologetic she is for just being herself and standing up for those in need.
The fade into the final track “Haunting Me” is absolutely gorgeous, a lovely fall into the serious nature of this song – plus, the feedback and distortion of the lead guitar provide a beautiful soundscape for the first few lines. The calm and soft nature of the bassline creates a lovely space for Tay’s vocal to glide over, and to speak her thoughts. A perfect conclusion to the rest of the EP, the song discusses her relationship with her mental health, how it controls her life and the way that it’s affected her. The chorus is almost a cry for help, a need for control for her to live the life that she wants, to enjoy the journey that she’s on and not have to worry about anything that comes in her way. As the track flows into the first chorus, the addition of the instrumentation gives a beautiful backdrop and soundscape for the track, proving the chemistry and quality of her band, their ability to connect with her songs and the way that they are able to only accentuate the power of these tracks.
“I Can See Everything” is a real insight into the feelings, emotions and life of Tay Temple, portraying her experiences and showing off her songwriting ability, being able to convey this into musical form, in a way that is not easy to find in the modern music industry. Her signature sound not only shows off her talent but her maturity, the quality of her band and the authenticity of her as a creative. The full EP is a poetic depiction of the struggles of a young queer woman in today’s society, and both the rage and misery of dealing with the modern world are illustrated in abundance throughout the record – proving that she is one of the finest up-and-coming artists in the UK. Her resilience and determination to create and perform only ensure her future as a musical force, and we’re sure that she will go above and beyond all and any expectations that people have of her.
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a big shout to everyone who has supported throughout the years!
it’s a fantastic track and it sets the scene for the album beautifully, we can’t wait to hear more when it comes out on the 28th July!
Bread Records 