Review Summary: Confidence in anxiety
The all powerful and supreme being that governs reality according to testament, Elohim, otherwise the Hebrew word for God; shares name with the ever elusive Los Angeles based pop artist who for the past year has hidden behind the shadows releasing a series of indie tracks and accompanying experimental visual aids under the cover of a crude, plastic lion mask. It's considerably a bold move to associate your name with a being who is immortalized in history as the very center of universal strength, in her own words however, the association runs beyond self-proclaimed empowerment through associating with a name as “masculine” and “strong” as Elohim. Instead, she romanticizes the practice of “love”, “acceptance”, and “confidence” through her namesake; an ideology that extends to her music for an ever blissful pallet of indie pop hits.
On her debut EP, Elohim explores anxiety through the haze of colorful, playful synth pop that centers around the electro variety. In a way, her writing over fear and unsettledness contrasting with exquisite and confident production gives a twinge of irony to the Elohim association that gives the EP a powerful, genuine kick. Opening track
Sensations moves about with an anxious, romantic atmosphere that immediately kicks to a quick chugging and exciting chorus that ignites in parallel to its catchy vocal hooks of “new sensations” reflecting the sloppy, romantic chills of sex and lust. Preceding tracks such as
She Talks Too Much and
Xanax, the two highlights of her growing career, are the centerpiece of the record.
She Talks Too Much is a quirky track that bounces with a curious synth sweep and a heavy bass chug that transitions in and out of a dreamy boom-clap chorus that thunders with power and tickles at the funny bone with a story of a ‘know-it-all’ overloading and derailing conversations.
Xanax on the other hand is a slower, mellower hi-hat indulgent ballad that explores the themes of anxiety more than any other track. Hollow drums and kicks fill the cadence of still, metallic vocals that open up with questions such as “
have you ever had the feeling when you just don’t wanna breathe” and “
Have you ever looked beyond the eye’s of someone else's life, and thought that you were fine until you turned crazy over night”. Its an incredibly personal track that hits the sweet spot of emotion that makes it a memorable take away from the EP.
Among other tracks include three beautiful interludes, a collaboration with former OddFuture member Casey Veggies, and a two part visual aid that breathes even more life into the EP.
Elohim is simply put a smart and amazing debut from a developing artist with the potential of becoming one of the genre's indie pop darlings. With music that finds confidence in anxiety for a winning combination of bliss, Elohim establishes herself as a figure who deserves to remain on your radar for the following years.
