EP REVIEW: Grace Calver - my life and it’s disasters
Suffolk's Grave Calver takes a retrospective look at "my life and its disaster" on her youthful, relevant new EP.
Teenager Grace captures the notion of what it is to be young, growing up and coming of age in a time where social media and social status are king. Documenting emotionless mundane online conversations. Going through the cycle of what it's like to be a teen in the modern age, life lived out through a computer screen. Faceless voids where real life interactions used to be. The idea of needing a vacation from life, escapism to the real world.
The EP examines young love and throw away romance, the confusion caused by feelings and the infatuations that can develop so easily. "my life and its disasters" perfectly encapsulated the challenges faced growing up, finding the right path, learning about our own emotions and how to adequately process them. While youthful in subject matter Grace's songwriting is that of someone with an old, wise head on young shoulders, both slightly bláze and dismissive but also decidedly more vexed and exhausted by the world than she should be given her tender years.
Grace's sound is up-tempo and catchy, a feel good danceable vibe with uplifting, bright guitars. It mixes elements of soft rock with the sunshine laced vibrancy of pop and elements of arty indie with a somewhat pretentious energy.
The vocals on "my life and its disasters" and stunning, Grace's voice has beautiful purity and clarity while also exhibiting a slight unpolished edge with an air of Debbie Harry swagger. Her vocals play through sweet with candyfloss innocence to attitude heavy and self assured.
Grace is a versatile talent. A captivating multifaceted voice and a remarkable guitarist. Her songwriting is sure to speak to anyone in a similar age bracket living their life in the technology age but will also provide an eye opening lesson to anyone much older as an insight into what today's youth are having to struggle through.
"my life and its disasters" is an infectious, hook heavy, spirited listen from an artist who could likely achieve anything she put her mind to.
