Since releasing her debut single in 2021, Lizzie Esau has gone from strength to strength, honing her sound. This has culminated in the release of her first EP, ‘Deepest Blue’, an offering of five songs that exemplifies the talent of the Newcastle native. Esau uses this EP to demonstrate her lyrical ability, writing songs that examine her relationship with herself, as well as her relationships with others.
Opening the EP is ‘Lazy Brain’, a track about finding yourself victim to sabotage by your own brain. Despite this gloomy subject matter, the song does end on a hopeful note, with Esau seemingly listing a few of the steps she will take that hint towards the beginnings of a better mental state. The track provides a good look at the elements that will characterise much of ‘Deepest Blue’, Lizzie Esau’s stunning voice being showcased in large choruses, impressive guitar work, and compelling songwriting.
While much of ‘Deepest Blue’ revolves around Esau’s relationship with her own mental health, ‘Roadkill’ instead explores the feelings towards someone that was abusive. Featuring low-key verses that provide an excellent contrast to the soaring chorus, Esau expresses a desire to see this abuser have their comeuppance.
On ‘Jellyfish’, Esau’s rapidly sung verses are punctuated by an attention-grabbing guitar riff. “I’ve got a spine like a jellyfish” sings Esau, expressing frustration over being a pushover. Luckily, this is not something that is a detriment to her music, claiming: “I’ve worked at my music for too long to start people pleasing now”. This sentiment is completely evident throughout ‘Deepest Blue’, with Esau being unabashedly herself on each track.
‘Killer’ harkens back to similar themes established on ‘Lazy Brain’, featuring lyrics detailing the moments where your own mind is your worst enemy and creates self-doubt. This is juxtaposed with a rousing instrumental with yet another catchy guitar riff that could be seen as a protest against these negative feelings.
‘Bleak Sublime’ truly lives up to its title. Whereas previous tracks feature punchy guitar work, the guitars on the closing track take on a dreamier aesthetic, with Esau’s voice gliding above. Rounding the ‘Deepest Blues’ out on a melancholic note, the track delves into the topic of drinking alcohol socially, and how some people become dependent on it. The title ‘Bleak Sublime’ could be said to sum up much of the EP perfectly; sad songs, beautifully crafted.
‘Deepest Blue’ is available to stream now on all platforms, and fans will have plenty of opportunities to hear these songs performed live, with Esau making a mixture of appearances throughout the rest of 2023. This includes festival appearances throughout the summer, supporting Somebody’s Child, and her own headline tour in November. At this point, things can only go up for Lizzie Esau, and in her own words; “There’s no way we’re going to let the ball drop now”.
You can see LIZZIE ESAU in Newcastle on November 4th ’23 at Zerox.
Tickets available here on shingigs.co.uk
