Kirsty Taylor | Spring
Weekly Feature: April 30 | Written BY Gariella Bosticco
Kirsty Taylor's upcoming EP Spring forms the third part of her ongoing Seasons project. The four-part series aims to represent each of the four seasons through music. Taylor seeks to stray away from her usually instrumental discography, towards a more lyric-centred sound.
Writing and producing music since 2019, Kirsty Taylor currently studies as a final year Popular Music student at the University of Highlands & Islands. The Spring EP will be available on streaming platforms on 28th April. Inspired by the seasonal title cards in the 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen's he 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, Taylor explores the differing themes present in each season.
Spring's personality shines through in this instalment; the breezy tunes are like cracking open a window for the first time. Often dancing the border between fantasy and reality, the EP has a strong connection with nature and growth. Taylor's vision of spring is the cool, bright one, fully of hope for the season ahead.
The first track, Mushroom In A Meadow, features singer Ceara_. It really does sound like a sunny spring day in a meadow, with soft guitar and a cheery beat. Ceara_ sings of springtime imagery surrounding a mushroom comparing itself to the flowers around it, but learning to overcome its insecurity. It sets the scene for the coming songs, preparing the listener for songs of doubt giving way to confidence.
The more muted Flooded Fantasy is reminiscent of April showers and beams of sunlight through a canopy of trees. Featuring vocalist Chloe Hawkins, its bittersweet sound borders on the ethereal. The strings and insecure vocals ripple together in intricate layers, telling an intriguing story of tentative romance.
The final track, Bloom, opens with dreamy synth. Chloe Hawkins's soulful voice compliments the uplifting lyrics, creating a comforting song of hope. There's an audible vulnerability to Bloom that reflects the growth it speaks of. The listener is reminded that spring is a process, and everything flowers at its own pace.
The Spring EP explores the season through an unexpected lens. Full of new beginnings and self-love, its close relationship with nature contributes to a chilled-out sound perfect for a spring day.