We are delighted to premiere the new EP ‘Tears While We Sleep’ from artist Naytee: a collection of deeply personal songs from the Melbourne-based singer/songwriter. After a period overseas, Naytee returned to Australia and began solo work in 2019 with his debut EP ‘Broken Record Store’ and multiple singles – including a cover of The Paper Kites ‘Bloom’. In 2020, he followed this up with the ‘Imagine This Place In Summer’ EP.
The style is challenging to define, but there is a a full-powered dream pop/shoegaze blast with a wall of sound that is thick and layered, driven by waves of synths with vocal set back in the mix: a sort of EDM mix. Naytee says of the themes that drive these five tracks:
These five tracks are a continuation of me having to face some hard truths that I had been struggling with for a long time. Having the chance to look back on them now, I was trying to learn how to feel comfortable in my own skin and find a sustainable way of maintaining that.
‘Sitting Alone At The Station’ has a driving pace with its plunging piano and synths and yearning vocals: filled with a bright melody. ‘Don’t Listen to Me’ has an insistent buzz in the mix – like a slightly out of tune radio – and EDM synth riffs that scythe their way through the sound.
‘Where Are You Now’ again slides the percussion to the background over the melodic refrain and, as with ‘Treading Water’, buries the melody under a thick buzz: almost a synth version of The Jesus and Mary Chain Psycho Candy approach with the synths almost overwhelming the sweet and delicate melodies with a buzzing drone.
The EP ends with ‘SYBM’ with the melancholic and expressive vocals filled with yearning. A deeply emotive and atmospheric aura that floats under the surface of the synth attack.
‘Tears While We Sleep’ hides delicate and evocative vocals under a wall of buzzing electricity but melodies thrive and flourish through five tracks that are atmospheric, dense and imperious.
Out on Friday, 25 June 2021, you can pre-save the EP here.
