“Delicate”, the debut EP from alt-folk artist Tamsyn is infused with her worldly experience and her weariness of love. Having grown up in Cape Town, South Africa and now residing on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland the singer/songwriter has curated a sublime collection of songs that will only charm fans of folk and indie pop and make others sit up and take notice.

Take You Away

The first song on the EP starts simply, with an acoustic guitar and the sweetly light timbre of Tamsyn’s voice but the song belies a more complex story about trying to comfort and support a loved one in need. There is a sad sense of longing as Tamsyn desires to see the fire back in their eyes. The lyric “If I could take you away from your mind” etches itself deeply in the listener and lets us know right from the first strum of her guitar what Tamsyn is about. Deeply moving songs that are meant to linger on even after the track long ends.

Delicate

When I first heard “Delicate” months ago I had to stop what I was doing, turn the volume up a little and recheck who this unknown Tamsyn was. Simply “Delicate” is a standout track, quite an astonishing feat given this was Tamsyn’s debut single. The song features Tamsyn’s sultry vocal treatment with a deliciously laidback bluesy rhythm. A song about narcissism, it conveys Tamsyn’s frustrations of being in a one-sided relationship with someone who doesn’t care for them. The breadth of emotion in “Delicate” from simmering anger to heartache keeps this track fresh and is an absolute jam.

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Willow Tree

“Willow Tree” is an indie-folk song of yearning featuring Chris Prior on vocals. The song humbly came to be in a hotel room, “I wrote ‘Willow Tree’ with my best friend in a motel while we were waiting to see a Fleetwood Mac concert.” Much like a Stevie Nicks penned song, “Willow Tree” is a whimsical outing and the addition of Chris elevates the song which may have come across as a little lonely had it only featured Tamsyn. Their partnership on this is great and with the addition of a slide guitar, Cajon and bells there is a warmth that radiates from within.

If I Could

Tamsyn brings it back to basics, focussing on her songwriting and voice to carry “If I Could”. Featuring a simple piano arrangement and strings Tamsyn allows herself the space for her voice to convey the melancholic pain of unrequited love. Tamsyn appears to be emerging as an artist who understands when to pull back and keep things simple, “If I Could” is a strong example of her not fussing too much with a song. The result is a bittersweet ballad that actually demonstrates a lot of maturity.

Fly Away

Protect your heart because it may not survive after “Fly Away’s” end. The final song is again a quiet composition composed of Tamsyn’s blue-hued singing over a piano. The string solo halfway through might actually break you but poignantly Tamsyn is searching for optimism in the dark times. Tamsyn has said that her songs come from an honest and heartfelt place and “Fly Away” shows Tamsyn is unafraid to expose herself in her journey of self exploration.

Tamsyn’s first EP offering shows her previous success was no fluke, the songwriter has released a collection of songs that stand out because of the warmth they exude and Tamsyn’s nuanced ability to craft a song. Having already caused a stir amongst Community Radio around Australia as well as having garnered attention from Double J’s Stir It Up, “Delicate” will only shine a brighter light on the talented singer.

The ‘DELICATE’ EP will be released across all digital platforms 20th May 2022