Sophisticated, sweet, and colorful pop is all over Ashley Elle’s latest EP. Say Something is engaging and heartfelt, gorgeously written and produced, a fantastic display of singer/songwriter pop that is bound to bring Elle heaps of new adoring fans.
Ultimately, Ashley Elle is a soulful singer and songwriter whose strain of indiepop strain is similar to that of Billie Eilish or Taylor Swift. Emotionally weighty, lively, and with a sublime balance between accessibility, instrumental nuance, and pop appeal. Elle hails from Los Angeles and Say Something is her extremely promising debut EP. A 7-song journey through love and heartbreak, the songs on Say Something are uniformly gentle and thoughtful, brimming with instrumental warmth that lands Elle more in the realm of Faye Webster’s contemplative side of indie than in Eilish’s explosive one.
Another strain that is richly explored in the EP’s songs is that of folk music, exhibited by the wealth of roomy drumbeats and well-toned guitars that healthily vary from jangly, twangy electrics to warm and overdriven ones. ‘October’, with its bustling arrangement, rich backing vocals, and memorable, long-winded melodies is a fascinating example of Elle’s style of pretty and gentle folk. The starter ‘They Always Come Back’ is a lovely introduction to the sound of Elle’s songs with its graceful, patient, and confident build up, bold mix with punchy-but-chill drumming, Elle’s colorful and capable vocal twists, and a gorgeous rhythm guitar tone that’s so dry, yet masterfully fitting to the song’s roomy and intimate character.
‘Say Something’ is more similar to the radio-friendly pop we all know and love. Especially with its lush pads and edgy drum introduction which threw me a little off balance. The title song is full of easy-to-follow chord sequences and familiar-sounding melodies, making for one of the album’s most instantly appealing songs, and a gorgeous showcasing of Elle’s songwriting talent. ‘Falling’ has a stunning acoustic guitar performance and a super tight drum groove, right alongside some of the album’s most straightforward structures and chord sequences, making for a song that’s very easy to fall for, and probably my personal favorite.
Ashley Elle’s debut is a promising collection of crisp and sweet folk and indie pop that got me excited for much more from her. A talented artist aided by genre experts such as co-writer Hank Compton, and mastering engineer Adam Grover, Ashley Elle is a gifted artist to keep an eye on.