The Breakdown
Claudia Fenoglio leases the emotive, whimsical and elegant new four track EP ‘What If I’m Here Forever’. At times immersive and delicate, at others vibrant and light, the EP demonstrates Fenoglio’s full width as an artist – elegant soundscapes built around understated indie tones akin to the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and Snail Mail.
Opening with the vintage – nostalgia tinted ‘Alaska’, Claudia introduces the EP with a swelling reverb tinted instrumental backdrop of guitars, subtle keys and tight drums under the boxy, effortlessly captivating lead vocals. Capturing an essence of Suck It And See era Artic Monkeys, the opener is followed by three just as beautifully constructed indie stunners.
‘Girlfriends On TV’ opens with a vibrant, instantly infectious guitar riff before growing into a vibrant, earworm chorus capturing a whimsical melancholic tone whilst retaining a striking, driving guitar led edge. ‘Forever’ continues to showcase, Claudia’s affecting relatable and honest lyricism over a beautifully constructed sonic pallet of warming guitar tones, subtle glitching synth, layers of beautiful harmonies all held together in the tight analogue production that saturates across the EP.
The closing track, ‘Stay With You’ encapsulates the beauty of Claudia’s songwriting – affecting vocal lines, melancholic, heartfelt lyricism, beautifully warm guitar tones and a driving, yet understated drumline to pull the track forward with a sense of purpose. The hum of strings lingers in the background before surging forward to enrich the chorus, creating a lush musical landscape that draws you in as gentle synths float alongside the track, adding depth to the sonic experience.
Claudia’s angelic vocal remains as a central hook throughout the EP as she creates a choir-like atmosphere with haunting back vocals under her boxy, central lead lines. Culminating with an explosive finally, the EP ends in a fittingly euphoric, cinematic manner.
In discussing the EP, Claudia shares her creative process, stating, “The songs on this record all came about in the same way; sitting on my bed with my acoustic guitar, mumbling melodies into my phone.”
Hailing from Cheshire and now residing in Leeds, Claudia Fenoglio’s retrospective lyricism has been warmly received by fans and tastemakers alike. The new EP is the culmination of the releases so far, bringing together her release in a one, elegant and strikingly brilliant project. Capturing a beautiful fragility, heartfelt melancholy and musical depth, the ‘What If I’m Here Forever’ EP is an excellent offering and paints a picture of Claudia Fenoglio as an exciting up and comer with a lot of promise for the future.
Listen below:
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