Daisy Howard’s In CNX is quite a delightful little collection of pop tunes that are inspired and written to inspire. Labeled by Daisy herself as songs that capture that electrifying feeling of a new love, In CNX is both soft and thunderous, light and intense, and most of all, a wonderful, well-thought-out listen.
British singer and songwriter Daisy Howard is based in Littlehampton but has been living on the road since 2019, writing songs, travelling, and exploring as many faces life has to offer as she can. From the dust left by her clicking heels came In CNX, Daisy’s latest EP, a 4-song (well, 3-song) listen that is ridiculously tight sounding, with punchy production and solidly written tunes. This love letter is directed by Howard to Chiang Mai, the place that inspired her to write these tunes. In CNX is as radio-ready as they come. With modern production and electrified arrangements that buzz with synths, bass, and driving beats, with Howard’s capable vocals and beautiful songwriting at the spearhead of the assault.
The 3 songs on In CNX, and the acoustic version of one of them, could not be more distinct, yet carrying a particular DNA that translates very well regardless of the song’s emotional tendency or songwriting style. The slow and deliberate ‘First Kiss’ is a soft love song that manages to find hope in the bittersweet melancholia of its lethargic pace and minimal arrangement. Strangely reminding me of some of the massively underrated love songs written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant for their short-lived reunion in the mid-90s, ‘First Kiss’ particularly delights with its roomy, acoustic drums and grandiose, buoyant bass line, deceptively introducing the music on the EP as more acoustic than it actually is. This fine cut is loaded with sweet lyrics wrapped in pretty melodies that are easy to follow on top of the relatively sparse arrangement.
‘I Want You Now’ is defined by the adventurous flare of the mixolydian mode and a driving, steady rhythm section. This groovy cut features a fantastic instrumental arrangement with a nuanced bass performance and a stellar presence by Howard’s layered back vocals, coalescing into a spectral tapestry of pad-like atmospheres. The unorthodox composition is intricate and colorful, with frequent travels to chords outside the key, wrapped in masterful melodies and charismatic vocal presence. ‘Hot Soup!’ is the EP’s lightest cut. A playful and flirty love song with road trip-ready hooks and a simple, easy-to-follow composition. The chorus on ‘Hot Soup!’ is the EP’s liveliest section with its addictive vocal rhythm and unforgettable motif. A rather thoughtfully penned pop tune with memorable melodies and an inviting, larger-than-life atmosphere.
In CNX is a short collection that is loaded with fun, energy, and optimism by Daisy Howard. A little EP that showcases her free spirit and free-spirited craft.