Girl at the Rock Shows

It’s another night when I find myself with some pent-up energy (somehow) and a couple of hours before a show. I told myself I needed to get better about doing album reviews and really tackle the stack of albums that has been growing on my desk, so let’s not let this precious time and energy go to waste. Let’s dig into the lovely Amy Zou’s sophomore EP, ‘I’ve Been Looking For You.’

This seven-track EP opens with “Wide Wide World,” and it instantly had me mesmerized. There’s a very clear and evident circular motion that reigns supreme throughout this song. It has an almost artistic ambient intro before you hear Amy Zou’s vocals. When I heard those vocals, I melted. There’s no other way to put it. They wrapped around me like a hug from a dear friend. They made me forget the stress of my day and, well, all of my stress in general. My house was no longer a mess, and my kitchen was no longer empty– it was just me, Amy Zou, and a sense of peace that I didn’t even know I needed for my Wednesday night. Don’t get me wrong, this opening track has energy behind it but it was the calming nature of the composition of Amy’s voice that really had me hooked and had me falling head over heels for this EP.

The circular motion seems to continue in “Something Follows” but takes the backseat to a heavy beat. I wouldn’t quite call this a pop song or Amy Zou’s style pop in general, but it has those tendencies, and I fear I just don’t know how to classify it. There’s a slight electronic influence that comes through in this track with that aforementioned beat, but overall, this is yet another just absolutely stunning piece of art. There’s an abstract feeling to the composition of the track, which perfectly contrasts with the organic nature of Amy’s voice. Even during the highly electronic-infused parts, there’s something so natural about what’s happening in this track, making it a stand-out single in an already impressive EP.

I honestly thought I had figured Amy Zou out to be a super chill musician until “The Winds” started. This song has an undeniable groove to it that will fill your heart with light and passion. I instantly fell addicted to the almost funk influence that remains a constant throughout this three-and-a-half-minute song, but I was intrigued by the way that, even with this new vibe, this song was clearly still that of Amy Zou. I can’t tell if it’s her voice or just the overall delivery, but this song seemed to leave me with more questions than answers, and I mean that in the best way possible. It shows that Amy, although situated in her unique sound, has a lot of tricks up her sleeves.

One of those tricks is “Treetops / Heaven”. This song is light and airy with a playfulness behind it but, at the same time, there’s something painful and heartbreaking about the tone of the track. Whether you want to pick up on the childlike playfulness or soak into the subtle darkness, this is a stunner of a track. It’s definitely a bit slower than I tend to go for but it was instantly a favorite track of mine on this EP. It seemed to hit me like a truck, evoking a range of emotions that I must have been suppressing for some time. It was a cathartic experience that I think we all need some times and what an honor to be able to have those moments in the presence of such a gorgeous voice and talent.

The subtle darkness of “Treetops / Heaven” is quickly replaced by a more electronic vibe like the one laid out in “Something Follows.” What really caught me about this song was the composition. There are rises and falls like in every good song, but it’s where Amy places those that really hooked me. Throughout this song, I tried to guess what was coming next, and I was wrong every time, yet what did come next fit so perfectly. Much like her style, Amy’s composition keeps you on your toes, and this flawless song is proof of that.

I was excited as the EP moved on to the sixth song. “I’ve Been Looking For You” because it’s the title track, and there’s always a reason for a title track to be dubbed as such. There’s no question why this is the title track. It takes all of the amazing things we have heard in the previous tracks and wraps them up in a bundle of hazy goodness. There are moments of electronic influence, other moments with a straight ambiance, some with a strong sense of energy, and others with a calming vibe, too. Again, the composition is a bit choppy and all over the place, yet it works so perfectly, making for a perfectly cohesive track that keeps you on your toes.

I’ve never wanted something to “Linger Long” until I got to this final track of the EP. Just when I thought I had heard everything Amy Zou had to offer, she hit me with this bop of a song. This is easily the most accessible track of the EP, but it is far from something you would hear on the radio. I love that because I was able to relate this track to so many familiar things yet still found myself lost for words at certain moments. This song showcases the versatility of this amazing songstress and was truly a perfect way to end an absolutely beautiful EP.

We are all living a break neck speeds these days. I can see on the faces of people I pass at the grocery store and when I look at myself in the mirror. Those dark bags under our eyes, chapped lips, bitten nails– we are all stressed but, for twenty-one minutes and forty-seconds this evening, stress was not on my mind. I was whisked away to a world of beauty and I can not thank Amy Zou enough for that.

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