HANNAH STOW Takes Player Of The Match With Her Reflective Debut EP 'Sidelined'
Showcasing 6 tracks of emotion, longing, and melancholy, Hannah Stow is finally sharing her long-awaited debut EP ‘Sidelined’, a hazy, dazy, indie-pop experience that is out today.
After the incredible reception of her previous single releases ‘Dawson Road’, ‘But I Lie,’ and ‘In The Dark’ from places like Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Music Feeds, Triple J, Apple Music and more, Hannah Stow is finally sharing her yearning and moody EP ‘Sidelined’, which showcases her gentle voice, proud Australian accent, and meditative electronic mixing for the world to see.
'Sidelined' is a collection of singles that a label once told Hannah to give up on, as she continues:
"- yet every time I would post snippets of these songs on my Instagram or TikTok people would go wild for them... Just because someone gives their "opinion" on something doesn't make it factual. If you do everything with love, express authentically, stay in your lane and believe in yourself - the universe will support you and push you towards where you need to be."
And it's clear Hannah has poured all of her love into this EP. With beats that flow together and Hannah's alluring husky and melodic voice providing a through-line, this album is undeniably all hers.
The album starts with a song tied to the difficult decisions Hannah has had to make to pursue music. ‘Leave Perth’ is a ballad to feeling trapped in a hometown, with soft, meditative electronic synth to capture the melancholy atmosphere. Written because she felt like she had to leave to chase her dream of being a musician, Hannah dwells on how much she wants to leave but how she doesn’t want to leave her loved ones behind.
Then, 'In The Dark' is a slow, magical song with gentle guitar and a raw and honest atmosphere. Though it was written when Hannah was in a dark place with little faith in the song, it quickly became a favourite of her fans whenever she performed it at live shows. It flows into the next song, keeping the soft, soothing atmosphere.
‘But I Lie’ dwells on the trials and tribulations that come with a sapphic relationship, exploring how it feels to hide a relationship and how rocky things can get through the sound of pulsing synth and sweet layered vocals.
‘Dawson Road’ lifts up the mood with a guitar riff guiding the song to something a little more poppy: it’s a wistful reflection of the ties two people have even once a relationship has ended.
'Hard Facts' has electric drum and bass and a slow, groovy pace with a touch of rap that dwells on how experiences shape a life, but how at the end of the day the person you are is the one you choose to be.
Finally, ‘Shade On Your Name’ features an industrial electronic sound palette and a bass drop with a woman’s voicemail, adding a twist to the song that tells a story of the post-betrayal malaise and the internal conflict that comes with it.
Hannah Stow's debut EP 'Sidelined' is out now.
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