dodie

“You”

(EP Review) – 11/08/17

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“Why do all the red flags look like so much fun? Oh, I have a habit of searching for the damage to share my love” – You

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Dorothy “dodie” Clark first appeared on the music scene in 2011 through her YouTube channel doddleoddle, the British vlogger and singer-songwriter has since been sharing her life with the internet, creating positive spaces to discuss loaded topics such as mental illness, sexuality, and relationships through her light composition style and witty, earthy lyrics. dodie’s second EP, You, collects her best recent work around these themes and fulfills the studio potential that first glimmers when she posts an unplugged version to YouTube.

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You has been available through iTunes, Spotify, and for physical purchase since August 11, 2017, debuting at number 6 on the UK charts and number 4 on the American iTunes charts. While the 22-year-old’s music may find its home with an impressive YouTube following of 1.2 million subscribers, the YouTube community certainly doesn’t seem to be where it’s staying. When she hasn’t been writing, recording, or posting videos, has been taking the EP on tour around the UK, spreading sparkles and love from behind her beloved baritone ukulele. After listening to You on effortless repeat (believe me, you won’t even notice how much you’ll absorb), it’s easy to see how the young songwriter can pull in such massive interest.

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Here’s the track list:
1. In The Middle
2. 6/10
3. Instrumental
4. You
5. Secret For The Mad
6. Would You Be So Kind

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“You said you’re into closure/shake hands like you’re supposed to/I’ll be in the middle, you two get along”
– In The Middle

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In The Middle is a playful and sensuous track backed by erratic produced percussion and a bass lead line— an experimental turn for dodie, whose trademark sounds are ukulele and rudimental tapping and clicking. The song is dodie’s personal commentary on her bisexuality, a “wouldn’t it be funny” take on her exes meeting. It’s lyrically clever and ironic, and infuriatingly catchy. 6/10 pulls the energy right back, pleading for “pity for the plain girl”. The piano-led lament brings in strings and echoed vocals in layers. dodie’s compositional and vocal command shines here in the melody’s match with the instrumental backing— it’s clear dodie isn’t just some YouTube kid that struck it big by being publicly quirky, but a talented multidisciplined musician. This becomes even more apparent in the third track, Instrumental… which is exactly what it sounds like. I’m not sure what dodie was trying to achieve with this one other than say “I can write a tight and emotional piece without needing to use words”— it’s not by any means a shallow goal, and Instrumental is as listenable as any other track on the EP; in fact, it would probably make for excellent study music. Instrumental places dodie a cut above many other produced artists of YouTube fame.

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“Little things, all the stereotypes/they’re gonna help you get through this one night/and there will be a day when you can say you’re okay and mean it” – Secret For The Mad

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The EP’s title track You is pure dodie with a 60s tropical twist. The crackly record effect backs dodie’s effortless vocals and signature ukulele. It’s a fun little ditty with the perfect dose of “happy-sad” that characterises her (and countless other indie artists’) songwriting. Secret For The Mad (also the title of dodie’s book) deals most explicitly with mental illness, particularly depression, in a manner that is both relatable and mature. Looking at Secret For The Mad alongside dodie’s personal struggles as shown in her vlog highlights how far the songwriter in her has come when it comes to channeling emotions positively into lyrics. Although I can’t shake how much the song melodically reminds me of I Want Candy (just me?). When the musical sun comes up in vocal harmony in the latter half of the track, I can’t help but think that dodie has just nailed the theme. dodie finishes her brilliant second EP with an upbeat singalong-style track, Would You Be So Kind. It’s a lovelorn ramble with some odd embodiment metaphors, but it wouldn’t be dodie without a little bit of odd. This track more than the others seems intentionally youthful and silly, which renders Would You Be So Kind its own sort of lovable. Her friends join in the song on the bridge— it’s an inviting party atmosphere, joyous and whimisical and so very dodie.

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dodie will be coming to Australia for VidCon in Melbourne on September 9. If you can’t make it (or can’t wait), dodie has hundreds of videos across both her music channel doddleoddle and her personal channel doddlevloggle.

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AMNPLIFY – DB