SOZI’s new 4-track EP “BLOOM,” which came out at the end of last month, delivers the energy of heartfelt pop sensation. The melodies are infectious, the production gives clarity, and it opts for a more moderate tempo and atmosphere rather than a rush of sound.
This EP is a journey through emotion, telling personal tales of both struggle and personal growth. It explores the voice of SOZI, who is working to push forward in life but has things that pull her back.
It all starts with “Seconds,” which starts with a snappy percussion and higher-toned, breathy vocals in addition to atmospheric synths. Slowly, a more full band sound with drums and strings starts to build. Lyrically, this track is about feeling like time is fleeting and moves too fast. The main voice has a lot to do but feels held back as time keeps marching on. “How do the seconds turn to minutes when I just woke up?” it goes. It explores how it feels to feel paralyzed while others move forward in life.
Then there’s “Fall Away,” which keeps the moderate tempo but pulls it back just a bit. This track explores trying to move forward from the past but being caught up in it. Overall, it’s about letting go of both the past and of pain. Once again, the instrumentation starts simple. It has some synths, claps, and a bassy piano. Then, a bright, starry synth takes the stage before the full range of sound cuts in again with more emotional vocals. This is a track of mental struggle and healing that uses an introspective atmosphere to pull listeners in further.
“Just for A Minute” puts more of a focus on the guitars with a bit of a clacky DIY percussion that builds around it with ethereal harmonies. Also, it uses some bird sound effects to add more life. This one has an absolutely catchy chorus, and it seems to set a lyrical tale of setting an intention of growth and a move forward. More on this track can be found in our interview here!
The bird SFX from the last track, with an optimistic push forward, extends into “Set Me Free.” This track starts with bird and nature sound effects before a synthy instrumentation cuts in. The percussion has a shakery sound that pulls the energy up, and the unique synth sounds build a dancey atmosphere even though things aren’t rushed. This track lyrically also rests on introspection, as the main voice searches for the one to set them free. That being said, at one point they note, “There is a spark, a fire in me I can’t tame / Lost in the dark, but all my thoughts are wide awake / Like a doll in the box, that spins when you turn the key / There’s a way that I’ll dance, when I set myself free.” There is a positive acknowledgement that only they can and will set themself free from their struggles.
Overall, this is a sharply produced EP that has a pop idol sound but isn’t rushed. Its emotional resonance is astounding, and it explores both struggles with mental health and a sense of optimism. It’s cohesive with the soft but full vocals and mix of synths and electronic instrumentation. Also, its pacing isn’t too slow or too fast, and it rests in a middle-tempo range that allows listeners to focus on its heartfelt emotion and deep lyriricism.
SOZI is a Los Angeles-based pop musician who is known for stellar performances and has been songwriting since the age of 10. This has led to “BLOOM”, which is part of a larger project on the rise. “BLOOM” is the first part of a four-piece work that SOZI is working on, which takes introspective storytelling and throws it into cinematic pop music. In the past, she released the track “Skipping Stones,” which can be found in “Temptation Island” on Netflix. She also reached the Apple Music editorial playlist “Work From Home” with her track “The Brink.” This most recent EP shows the ability to craft cohesiveness in sound and an emotional and relatable narrative, so let’s see how that plays into a larger project!
Written by Sage Plapp
