Sweet Pill - ‘Starchild’ EP review
Sweet Pill
Sweet Pill drop their first EP since signing to Hopeless Records the spellbinding Starchild this Friday. Starchild may only be eleven minutes long, but it’s easily my favourite release of the year thus far. The band's stint in the Poconos with producer Matt Weber undeniably paid off, as the EP exudes a seamless quality. The tracks effortlessly blend and merge, yet each possesses the strength to stand on their own. Sweet Pill's new EP exhibits a continuation and growth from their full-length debut, Where The Heart Is, fusing the best elements of emo's past to craft the perfect sound for its future.
I've had the EP on in a near-constant loop since receiving it, and not once have I found myself getting bored. It's easy to see why Hopeless fought so hard for the band's signature; they are on the brink of exploding. American Football-esque guitars seamlessly harmonise with early Paramore-style driven drums, crafting the perfect backdrop for Zayna Youssef to lyrically dissect herself. With Starchild, it becomes apparent that the Philly-based band are ready to shape the future of the emo genre and propel themselves into the stratosphere.
The EP kicks off with the title track, "Starchild," initially released at the close of last September when Hopeless announced the band's signing. I was in love with the track from the very first notes, prompting me to hurriedly run upstairs and share it with Kelly before letting the entire song play out. “Starchild” serves as the perfect foundation both sonically and lyrically for the rest of the EP and is bound to connect with anyone who feels the weight of the world placed on imperfect human shoulders.
Throughout the track, Jayce Williams and Sean McCall skillfully twist and turn their guitars, transitioning from the pounding, overdriven heart of the song to its angular, jittering, neurotic nerves. Lyrically Youssef grapples with the burden of others' responsibilities as countless eyes stare. Striving for perfection but ultimately falling short and burning out as she laments at its close "Set up to win, wind up disappointing everyone in the end; I am disappointing mostly myself in the end."
Following "Starchild" is "Chewed Up," and in the band's own words, "[the track] is musically much more in-your-face. It's akin to the intrusive thoughts that keep you wide-eyed in bed at night." There's no better way to capture its essence than that—it stands out as my favourite on the entire EP. I often catch myself rocking out to it and belting out the lyrics. It's the kind of song that demands to be played at full volume while you scream into the void, attempting to seize control of your self-worth before succumbing to the silence of personal collapse on the floor, unable to utter a word or even attempt an escape from your own downfall.
On "Eternal," Sweet Pill's Midwest emo influences are laid bare. Although it's the shortest on the record, clocking in at a mere 2 minutes and 19 seconds, there is ample space for sounds to echo out like exploding fireworks, creating a mesmerising display. The instrumentation is a bundle of trepidation—angular, pointed, and crawling. Williams, McCall, bassist Ryan Cullen, and drummer Chris Kearney become Youssef’s pulsating nervous system as she delves deeper into her neuroticism and anxiety, which fuels the entirety of Starchild. The track touches on themes of being stuck in the past, with thoughts pulsating throughout brains stuck remembering what has gone before, wanting to stop but failing to change how our minds work, failing to stop thinking, and failing to cease talking about the thoughts of the past that rush through our heads.
Starchild reaches its crescendo with "Sympathy," the only currently unreleased track on the EP. It stands out as the heaviest on the record, with Cullen and Kearney propelling the band forward at full throttle. While still echoing the nuances of the Midwest emo scene, the track leans heavily into their post-hardcore-tinged third-wave emo influences. "Sympathy" refuses to let go from its first pounding notes, driving you forward and prompting a desire to play it repeatedly.
Once again, the themes centre around being held back by anxiety-laden memories. This time, Youssef is absorbed in self-pity, longing for renewal and success, aspiring to claim first place. However, she finds herself ensnared, unable to progress, her dreams hindered by self-sabotages. "Sympathy" serves as the fitting end to the EP and leaves you wanting more.
As previously mentioned, Starchild stands out as my favourite release of the year, positioning Sweet Pill to shape the future of emo and skyrocket themselves into the stratosphere. With Starchild, Sweet Pill boldly showcases their willingness to evolve, creating something new and with each incarnation they grow stronger.
Starchild from Sweet Pill is out 15 March via Hopeless Records and available on all good streaming platforms. Sweet Pill are set to cross the Atlantic this July for their debut UK tour, accompanied by support from one of our other favourites, SUDS as well as festival appearances at both 2000trees and Outbreak.
