As I have mentioned many times on this blog, one of my favorite ways these days to discover new music is through TikTok. The app has become a hub for up-and-coming artists to shine and make a name for themselves; so many of today’s biggest artists have had their careers take off because of that app, and so much of today’s most popular music is dictated by what goes viral on it. At this point, my TikTok algorithm is perfectly curated for me as a new music lover; so many of the videos I get in my feed are from new artists beginning to gain traction and make a name for themselves on the app, which I think is so great. An artist that I recently came across on TikTok that I can not get enough of is Juliet Ivy. There is something about her music that is so unique and fun; her sound is a breath of fresh air and makes her stand out amongst her peers in the best way. Juliet Ivy makes Alternative Pop-Rock music that feels nostalgic and newfangled at the same time. There are qualities about her music that older Alternative music fans and younger fans of Indie Pop and Rock can appreciate. Juliet Ivy is a very new artist, having only released two singles before 2023(one in 2021 and one in 2022). She recently released her debut EP, playpen. In this write-up, I wanted to discuss playpen because I think it is a really good EP and shows how bright the future is for Juliet Ivy. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from Juliet Ivy’s playpen, and also comment on how you feel about the EP as a whole.
Juliet Ivy gets this EP started with the song ‘wet nose.’ This is a song that has a very modern and nostalgic feeling and sound at the same time. The style and tone of the melody have an element that immediately makes me think of the late 1990s, but the beat is so current. This song has a warm and luscious guitar-driven melody that immediately makes me think of 1990s Slacker Rock. When I hear this track, I think of music by artists like The Cranberries or Natalie Imbruglia. There is a lot of distortion and sound effects put on the melody that makes it unorthodox and fresh. The melody for this track has so much texture, which makes it so engaging. ‘wet nose’ has a very quick and soft beat with a HyperPop element to it. Typically, music with this kind of melody and tone does not have rapid beats that will make you want to dance, and this makes ‘wet nose’ cool and distinct. Juliet Ivy’s vocals on this track are very understated and dainty; the calmness in her delivery makes the song so inviting and gratifying. On ‘wet nose,’ Juliet Ivy sings about not getting in your head and letting your negative thoughts get you down. Interestingly, this song has such a delightful sound considering its lyrical tone is so negative. ‘best friend’ has an ethereal feeling that makes me feel like I am floating when I hear it. This song almost feels like a more Alternative and experimental version of some of the music that PinkPantheress has been making. It has the same kind of Jungle or UK Garage music as her most popular tracks, but it has a more Alt-Rock-centric tone than most of her music does. This song is driven by an airy and atmospheric Pop-Rock melody driven by a bright and light guitar riff that is complemented by heavenly synths and strange sound effects. As I stated, this melody will make anyone feel like they are walking on clouds. I really enjoy how welcoming and airy the melody for this track is. The beat for ‘best friend’ has a bit more intensity than the melody, giving the song a layer of emphasis that it benefits from. Juliet Ivy’s vocal performance on this track is so nice; her tone and overall delivery make this song feel all-encompassing. ‘best friend’ is an ode to someone in Juliet Ivy’s life whom she loves and cares for deeply. This person helps her get through life and is always by her side when she needs someone. ‘boytoy’ has a bit more of a lively and forceful tone than the songs that precede it. Everything about this song is energetic and bright. The melody, which is super intricate, has a tone that is warm and pleasant, but is mixed in a way that makes it a bit fierce. This melody has a tone that makes me think of early 2010s Alternative Pop-Rock. When I hear it, I think of bands like The Neon Trees or The Naked and Famous. It is amazing how complex this song is considering it is 2:29. ‘boytoy’ packs a large punch for being so short. The mix of this song is so distinct and interesting. I love the distortion that comes in and out of the track; at different times of ‘boytoy,’ the vocals, beat, and melody pick up distortion of weird elements to the mix, making the song stick out awesomely. ‘boytoy’ is a song that keeps the listener on their toes because of how elaborate it is. Juliet Ivy’s vocals on ‘boytoy’ are so easy and fun to sing along to, making this song a total earworm. On ‘boytoy,’ Juliet Ivy sings about a new fling with a guy she has become infatuated with and whom she wants to spend all of her time with.
Juliet Ivy shows off another element of her artistry in the song ‘lug.’ This is probably the softest and most Pop-centric song of the EP to this point. The melody for this track is very sweet and soft, and the beat has more of a traditional Pop sound to it as well. It still does fast-paced and detailed drums that give it a HyperPop or Garage feeling, but the faint mix of the beat makes it feel more traditional. I like how this song toes the line between experimental Alt-Pop and traditional Pop-Rock, as it makes it palatable and inviting to a wide range of music fans. ‘lug’ has my favorite vocal performance on the project to this point. I especially love Juliet Ivy’s flow during the verses of this track. Her pacing and cadence have a bit of a Hip Hop feel, making this song all the more exciting and riveting. On ‘lug,’ Juliet Ivy sings about living with the consequences of her actions and trying to avoid the negative things that she sees coming in her life. Juliet Ivy closes out playpen with the song that is becoming a viral sensation right now, ‘we’re all eating each other.’ This song is being described on TikTok as nihilistic girly Pop-Rock, and I feel like that is a perfect description for it. The instrumental for this song is vivid and cozy, and the lyrical tone is so dark. Like the first track of the EP, the melody for this song has a 1990s Slacker Rock feeling to it. If you are a fan of bands like Sixpence None The Richer or Michelle Branch, this is a song you will love. Instead of having a HyperPop or Jungle beat, though, this one has a more traditional Pop-Rock beat. If one were to tell me this song came out about 20-25 years ago, I would probably believe them because of how well it fits into the Adult Contemporary Alternative sound of that era. I mean that in the best way, though, as the song provides a nostalgic feeling I enjoy so much. Juliet Ivy’s vocal performance on ‘we’re all eating each other’ is just excellent. Her breathy and delicate tone and delivery match the energy of the instrumental so well, and Juliet Ivy exhibits her range in this song in a manner that makes it so dynamic. As I said, the lyrical tone of ‘we’re all eating each other’ contrasts the tone of the instrumental. In ‘we’re all eating each other,’ Juliet Ivy how we should not worry about everything so much because we all die and rot away anyway. It is a reminder to not take yourself so seriously because there are so many things about life that we can not control. The message of this song is seriously so great, and it is a song I will be coming back to whenever I am doubting myself or feel too anxious. ‘we’re all eating each other’ is an excellent way to end playpen, as it closes out the record on a powerful note.
It is pretty easy to see that Juliet Ivy is an artist with a ton of star power. She has a style of music and an energy that is entirely her own and is so palpable. Her music brings a feeling of nostalgia while also feeling fashionable and ahead of the curve. I honestly think she is someone who is going to end up being a massively popular artist, and I am happy that I was able to discover her before she explodes into superstardom(which I believe will happen sooner rather than later). playpen is an EP that shows off Juliet Ivy’s immense talent. Sonically, it is retro and current at the same time, providing elements of nostalgia while still feeling so up-to-date. Lyrically, it is tongue-in-cheek and relatable, providing feelings of angst that will resonate with so many young music fans. playpen is easily one of my favorite music projects of the year, and it makes me very excited to see Juliet Ivy grow into a household name in Alternative Pop music.
EAST SIDE VIBES 