Project Description

QUAILS

‘WORLDS’

(EP Review)

20/04/18

by Chelsea Wood

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QUAILS is the solo project of Sydney’s Amy Pes. Following the release of her impressive 2016 self titled debut (QUAILS), she’s welcoming 2018 with her sophomore EP, ‘Worlds’.

‘Worlds’ sees Amy use her platform to further explore and refine her sound. The six track EP takes the listener on an emotional journey, examining what is felt between the stages of love and loss. Throughout each of the tracks, the listener can hear and appreciate the shift in Amy’s style and songwriting; with the EP displaying a cohesive approach to its underlying emotional themes.

As described by Amy herself, ‘Worlds’ explores the themes of longing and loss, making each track equally relatable:

‘I am always trying to capture and express those intense feelings of longing and loss, all the while experimenting with vocal work and having accompanying music which makes you feel something.’

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QUAILS most recent single, ‘Powerless’, welcomes the listener into ‘Worlds’ by exploring the conflicting desire to feel in control, yet being happy to succumb to second best. This frustration is heard through Amy’s signature vocal style, while the beat of the track builds tension until it’s released through an instrumental. ‘We Don’t Need Entertainment’ adds volume to the EP, while bringing the overall tone to a more upbeat stature. Whilst the vocal work of ‘Powerless’ seems somewhat relaxed and defeated (suiting the song’s tone), the vocals in this track take on a demanding stance questioning emotions, and exploring the feelings of longing and infatuation. The lyrics themselves often challenge the song’s melancholic electronic beat heard through, ‘Making me crazy, telling me that you want it…’.

Similarly, ‘Lost In You’ shows off Amy’s defiant vocals through a vocal line that matches the upbeat mood. As soon as the song starts (with the statement, ‘I love how your body moves,’) the listener is transcended into a state of being in love. It’s as the song progresses, the theme of unreciprocated love trickles through; ‘You won’t love me, you won’t try,’ ‘You were playing games with me, but I let you win.’  Despite the lyrics showcasing how lost and infatuated the subject of the song is with someone, an acceptance of this behaviour is also suggested. The EP’s final track, ‘Hopeless Softly’, encompasses the often tumultuous end to a relationship fueled friendship.

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‘700kph’ and ‘Freeze Life’ appear on the EP as stand out tracks that show a different side to QUAILS songwriting and approach, while maintaining a connected story. Showing a more delicate side of her style, ‘700kph’ begins with soft piano elements that grow into a synth beat. Working alongside Lockjaw on this track allowed Amy’s original piano work to be transformed into the emotional rollercoaster young lovers feel when separated by distance. In stark comparison to this, ‘Freeze Life’ (inspired by robotic aesthetics) uses eerie piano work (to recreate the sound of a ticking clock) as well as Amy’s vocals that in turn delve into a delicate darkness all the while emphasising society’s obsession with staying young.

While her debut EP mixed together the genres of dark pop, R&B, and electronica, ‘Worlds’ perfectly depicts the musical growth of Amy Pes over the past few years, and places her as one to watch in the Electronica scene. In each track, her lyrics are juxtaposed against the melodic electronic backdrop, and her vocal work remains intimate, yet demands to be heard. Although each track on ‘Worlds’ has its unique sound, when all six come together they create they demonstrate a six part journey made up raw experiences and relatable honest lyrics.

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