REVIEW: Darkroom by Ezzy
Ezzy, hailing from Wales and a BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute) student, modestly describes herself as a “singer-songwriter”; I would replace this with a “force to be reckoned with”. Ezzy’s new single Darkroom has nearly 8000 streams on Spotify despite the fact that she is (unbelievably) unsigned. Ezzy is a dark horse; her social media isn’t boastful and therefore, on the surface, she is an inconspicuous artist. However, after listening to Darkroom, the listener is instantly enthralled by Ezzy’s scathing lyrics, unique vocal flair and addictive hooks.
Darkroom was originally written and released in 2019. Ezzy is re-releasing all of the tracks from her debut album this year; next up is the fabulous Running. Her 2019 single Paradise and its B-side Guardian Angel have racked up a well-deserved 48,000 and 53,000 Spotify streams respectively. For an upcoming artist, these are impressive tallies but, due to the fact they are the work of Ezzy, unsurprising.
Darkroom’s cut-throat lyrics and impeccably-paced, snipey vocal rhythms are reminiscent of K.Flay’s Blood In The Cut. In fact, Ezzy’s dramatic, “thirsty for some blood” style would be perfect for Netflix’s The Bold Type soundtrack amongst the likes of Flay. In Ezzy’s Spotify bio, she describes her music as being “directly influenced from real-life events, deeply personal and close to her heart”. Well, if this is the case with Darkroom, frankly, RIP her muse!
Suckerpunch lyrics in the single include: “I love to hear you scream…” and “if you swim into my reach, your body will be buried in the mud”. Ezzy’s seething high notes show no signs of weakness; she is an immensely believable bad-ass. These falsettos, featured in the chorus as a memorable, frilly trademark, suggest a sinister laciness lurking behind the track’s blatant viciousness. Ezzy’s fans describe Darkroom as “uplifting in the darkest sense” and Ezzy herself explains that the track’s narrative encapsulates “taking back your power and standing up to a toxic force in your life”.
Darkroom’s pulsating, knife-sharp percussion makes the listener want to strut around in a leather jacket and kill all of their exes. In the best, most legal way possible. Or worst, illegal, whatever, like Ezzy cares! She’s busy “slaying the game” and “swinging (her) mace”. The track’s gutsy instrumentation is the work of London-based producer Imad Salhi, mixed and mastered with obviously deft skill by Shaun Lowe.
Darkroom’s concise production allows Ezzy’s showstopper vocal performance to lead the listener through an infectious, fluid melody that flaunts syllabic refrains and crisp delivery.
Ezzy cites on-trend Billie Eilish as an inspiration and, more quirkily, Harry Potter! If the listener hones in on the first verse of Darkroom, they will hear an unmistakable reference to JK Rowling’s beloved character Ron, who sacrifices himself in The Philosopher’s Stone during a dangerous game of wizard’s chess: “Knight to H3…”
Ezzy’s single is instrumentally impactful, leaves the listener breathless and conveys an intrinsic feminist message. Ezzy has “a side” to her that she doesn’t “let people see”; her “precious and pretty” exterior should not be taken at face-value. Hopefully, Ezzy will take her own, rightfully earned advice: “about time I started acting like a fucking prodigy”.
© Melissa Julianne Severn 2021
Listen to Darkroom:
Ezzy's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ezzyrhyddid
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