Girl at the Rock Shows

I’m really struggling to focus right now. Maybe it’s exhaustion, maybe it’s stress; regardless, I’m frustrated with myself because I have so much to do but just can’t pull it together enough to do anything at all. I don’t have the luxury of just calling it an “off day” and giving up, as it has already been a short week, and I am so far behind due to being out of town last weekend, so I need to mix it up a bit and see if I can shake this feeling. I typically review full albums and EPs after my day job, and it sparks a sense of motivation and joy in me. I’m hoping that reviewing a full album right now, in the middle of the day, may spark that same amount of motivation and joy, so let’s spend today’s lunch digging into ‘More Awake Less Alive’ from Cindë.

This quick EP kicks off with “VICTIM!” featuring Northside Hollow. This opening track may start off slow and ambient, but as layer after layer of sounds come in and take over, this song quickly immerses you in Cindë’s world in such a beautiful way. It’s a creepy song, keeping the ambiance that kicks off the song in the background throughout the two-and-a-half minute song, but Cindë’s strong vocals mixed with Northside Hollow’s rap-leaning influence creates a powerful, anthemic, albeit eerie track that will instantly get you hooked.

The way that “VICTIM!” grows into “I Just Need The Sun,” the second track on this album, is genius because it continues these insane waves of sound and angst in such a flawless way. This second track has more of a dance-influenced punk-drenched beat that instantly reminded me a bit of Yungblud without being a carbon copy in any way. That influence and comparison is more in the limitless amount of energy that this second song has. To say that “I Just Need The Sun” is a true bop would be an understatement, and on the dreary day that we are having up here in Minneapolis today, this song breathed a sense of life into me that I was so desperate for.

I really like the vocals in “Villain Origin Story.” Although they are clearly the gorgeous vocals of Cindë that remain a constant throughout all five songs on this EP, they come with a bit more of an edged tongue. I love the subtle aggression and obvious angst that comes through with every word of this track. There’s a clear nod to old-school Billie Eilish in this song, but, again, like that Yungblud statement I made earlier, there’s still such a strong sense of self that comes through no matter what you want to compare this song to. At the end of the day, “Villain Origin Story” is clearly a song from Cindë, and it’s yet another track that traps you in Cindë’s world in such a beautiful way.

Just as I found myself getting a bit angsty and aggressive purely because of the way the third song hit me, Cindë slows things down and shows us more of her sensitive side with “Medusa’s Son.” This fourth track is truly stunning and one that will make you feel everything, even if you thought that you had nothing to feel at the time. There’s a sense of vulnerability in this song that is ridiculously powerful and made it an instant favorite of mine, even though I’m not typically one for a more tender-leaning song. I feel like listening to “Medusa’s Son” creates a bit of a bond between the listener and Cindë, just proving how much heart and passion Cindë has put into her craft and this song in particular.

‘More Awake Less Alive’ closes with “Smiley Face Ring”. I feel like this is one of those songs that can be used as a safety blanket or a pump-up jam depending on your mood. There seem to be conflicting emotions between the words, the vibe, and the delivery in this song that make that possible but, regardless of how this final track hits you, it will absolutely hit you hard.

This entire five-song, thirteen-minute EP is a rollercoaster ride that you definitely have to buckle up for, but by the end of it, you won’t want to unbuckle. Cindë has a way of relating to anyone and everyone. I honestly wasn’t looking for music to hit me on such a deep level, more just looking for something to wake me up, but, by the end of the journey that is ‘More Awake Less Alive,’ I felt like I had a new comfort blanket, a new outlet for aggression, and a new friend. What a stunning work of art.

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