Over the last several years, Indie Pop music has been one of the most awesome genres to follow. The growth and diversity of Indie Pop music has been so huge, with artists in this broad genre taking inspiration from such a wide range of sounds to make music that is riveting and trendsetting. Out of the many Indie Pop artists I have come to love recently, Holly Humberstone has definitely become one of my favorites. Holly Humberstone has not been around for long, but she has made a hell of an impact during her brief time in the limelight. Holly Humberstone first broke onto the Indie Pop scene in late 2020, after she was cited as one of Vevo DSCVR’S ARTIST TO WATCH for 2021 following the release of her debut EP Falling Asleep At The Wheel. Holly followed up this newfound success with her November 2021 EP The Walls Are Way To Thin. This EP contained the viral single ‘Scarlett,’ which further asserted Holly Humberstone as an ascending Indie Pop star(I actually found Holly due to the virality of ‘Scarlett,’ as I discovered it on TikTok in early 2022 and was immediately hooked). After dropping a compilation record of her previously released music called Can You Afford To Lose Me? near the end of 2022, Holly released her debut album, Paint The Bedroom Black, in the Autumn of 2023. This album was lauded for how eclectic and raw it was, and it was praised as one of the best albums of 2023 by many music critics. Paint The Bedroom Black was one of my personal favorite albums from last year(it is included on my Best Albums of 2023 list; go read that one after finishing this review if you have not yet), and it asserted that Holly Humberstone is one of my new top artists making Indie Pop music. Holly Humberstone seems to never stop working on making new music, as she just released a new EP titled work in progress. Here is how I feel about Holly Humberstone’s latest project. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from work in progress, and also comment on how you feel about the EP as a whole.
Holly Humberstone gets work in progress going with its lead single, ‘Dive,’ which comes out around Valentine’s Day. ‘Dive’ has a slightly more retro and calm sound than a lot of the music we heard on Paint The Bedroom Black. The first thing I thought of when I first heard this song was the music that Sheryl Crow became big for in the mid to late 1990s. This song has a sound that feels inspired by that kind of Country Pop music. The bright guitar riff that drives the melody is twangy, and the drum beat is light and easy-going. There are elements to the mix that give it a modern Alternative music feeling. The melody is complemented by synths and sound effects that make it fresh, and the slight amount of distortion that comes in and out of the riff gives the song a slightly harsh texture at times. Holly Humberstone’s vocals on ‘Dive’ are great. Her tone is so luscious and welcoming, making the song feel soothing. On ‘Dive,’ Holly Humberstone is a self-deprecating song where Holly Humberstone is warning her potential partner about what it is like to be with her. ‘Work In Progress’ is a song that feels more retro than the song that precedes it. This track has a Folk-Music feeling that has a bit of an Americana element. The song is driven by a warm yet melancholy guitar riff that is put on top of an understated and slow beat. ‘Work In Progress’ has a tone that makes me think of the music by artists like Big Thief or Soccer Mommy. Like ‘Dive,’ there are elements to the mix on this track that make it feel very fresh. The instrumental contains various quirky sound effects that make the sound feel floaty and atmospheric. Like ‘Dive,’ Holly Humberstone’s vocals on ‘Work In Progress’ are great. Her tone is so tranquil and sweet, adding to the song’s comforting feeling. On ‘Work In Progress,’ Holly Humberstone is singing about working towards happiness with a partner and sticking things out even when they get tough.
Holly Humberstone raises and toughens the energy a bit with the track ‘Down Swinging.’ This song has a Pop-Punk and Alternative Rock feeling that reminds me of the early 2000s. The instrumental for this one kind of feels like a fusion of the music between artists like Blink 182 and Matchbox 20. The punchy and distorted guitar riff has a tone that is reminiscent of Blink, but there is something about the synths and overall mix of the track that is similar to the New Wave-esque music that Matchbox Twenty was making towards the end of their tenure(particularly in songs like ‘How Far We’ve Come’). I really enjoy the saxophone that comes in about halfway through the track, as it makes the melody so luscious and full. ‘Down Swinging’ is easily the most lively song of the EP, as it has an upbeat drum pattern that makes me want to dance when I hear it. Holly Humberstone’s vocal performance on ‘Down Swinging’ is a bit more subdued on this track, which works nicely because of the strength of the melody. On ‘Down Swinging,’ Holly Humberstone is singing about fighting her mental health problems and not succumbing to the dangerous thoughts that flood her mind. Holly Humberstone closes out work in progress on a very soft and sweet note with the song ‘Easy Tiger.’ This is the most passive song of the project. For the most part, the instrumental for ‘Easy Tiger’ consists of a warm and welcoming guitar riff. There is no beat for this track; it is truly an Acoustic Folk track, with it mainly consisting of that guitar riff and Holly’s wonderful vocals. Near the end of the song, some vocal effects and synths come in to give the melody a bit of depth, but they do not take away from the mild and relaxing feeling of the instrumental in any way. As I mentioned, Holly may have saved her best vocals for last. One can hear the emotion in Holly’s voice on this track, and it makes ‘Easy Tiger’ so engrossing and beautiful. On ‘Easy Tiger,’ sings about how her best friend Lauren helps her with her insecurities, anxiety, and depression. Lauren is a rock for Holly in the chaos of her mind. ‘Easy Tiger’ is a lovely way to end this project, and it sends work in progress on such a hopeful and pleasant note.
One thing I have come to realize in the short amount of time I have been listening to Holly Humberstone is that it seems like her artistry is so vast. It seems like she can make so many types of music for all types of Indie Pop fans, and that there are no limits to her abilities as a musician. Now, work in progress is not nearly adventurous in its sound as some of Holly’s past releases. Compared to some of her other music, it almost feels a bit safe. But work in progress is a prime example of the beauty in simplicity. Even though these instrumentals are not the most dynamic or riveting, they are as captivating(or even more so) as any of the music she has released to this point. The four tracks on this EP have an intimate feeling to them that I adore. I would really love to see Holly Humberstone perform these songs live because I think they would induce a connection with the audience that is so palpable. work in progress is short and charming, and it has a level of coziness that makes it so enjoyable. work in progress is yet another example of why Holly Humberstone is one of the best new artists in Indie Pop today, and it is the latest awesome edition to her growing catalog.
EAST SIDE VIBES 