NEW ELIZA MAY EP & LAUNCH AT DEADWAX
Stephen Pennell ©
After supporting big artists such as Kate Nash and Tiffany as well as performing at incredible festivals like Y Not? and the Hereford Indie Food Festival in 2022, Eliza is starting 2023 off with a bang, by releasing her highly anticipated EP “Candy Heart”. It tells the story of a classic relationship cycle; starting off full of romance, originally tasting sugar sweet but turning sour as the relationship ends. Based on true stories from her own life, there are layers of gorgeous harmonies, sassy but classy lyrics and playful instrumentation that will have you singing and dancing all the way through. Taking inspiration from a wide range of artists including Paramore, Olivia Dean, Fickle Friends and The Wombats, this EP is full of catchy indie pop bops that perfectly encompass the highs and lows of falling in and out of love.
The EP begins with Green Light, boasting a powerful staccato guitar attack that brings to mind Weller at his acoustic best, and continues with Candy Heart’s strident vocals, underscored by lilting electric guitar noodles reminiscent of prime B-Town pioneers Peace before Harri won the lottery and hung up his plectrum. There’s something deliciously melancholic about Foolish, which leads into the perfect pop and hypnotic riff of Edge of This. EP closer Empty Dreams sounds like something Christine McVie might have written and handed to Stevie Nicks to sing. Extra points are awarded for avoiding an obvious rhyme at the end of the chorus, so obvious in fact that I included it while singing along!
Eliza has honed her love of indie pop and, with the help of her band, infused her sound with groovy guitar riffs, funky bass lines, enchanting keys parts and lyrics that come straight from the heart. The EP is about falling in love, and trust me, you’ll be head over heels by the end of the tracklist. It’s a stunningly beautiful selection, and while headphones are recommended, I’d also advocate playing it loud enough for the neighbours to hear.
Eliza says: “Candy Heart is a soundtrack for the hopeless romantics, the people who are in love with love. I wrote these songs over the course of six years about the different relationships and emotions I felt during the rollercoaster process that is dating. From heartbreak to true love, I’ve felt it all and Candy Heart is like a series of entries from my personal diary.”
This collection of tracks is mixed and mastered by Jamie Farnell (Fretless Audio) and features Eliza’s latest singles “Edge of This” and “Candy Heart”. Both singles received a great deal of support from radio stations throughout the country including BBC Introducing West Midlands, Amazing Radio (UK & US), Islington Radio (London) and GMTF Radio (South Wales) as well as features on blogs such as Music Crowns, Dead Good Music Blog and - of course - King City Online! To support the release, Eliza will be independently putting on her own EP launch at Dead Wax Digbeth on 10th February and has already got big festivals and gigs lined up for the rest of the year. With her delightfully addictive sound, Eliza May is an artist you won’t want to miss out on in 2023.