EP REVIEW: Doubles – Paige Kennedy

Since their debut in 2018, PAIGE KENNEDY has been making a name for themself within the up-and-coming music community. So far they’ve been given airtime on BBC 6 Music and BBC Introducing, made it into the Top 5 of Green Man Rising, and have performed with the likes of PEANESS and ADWAITH. And the reason for this support? Well, it’s all down to their fusion of pop, electronic, funk and indie music that results in songs that make you want to both cry and dance. Their latest EP, Doubles, is no different.

Consisting of four songs, the first half seems to have a more carefree nature whereas the second half is more vulnerable. As the record starts off with This Is The Girl!, we are greeted by upbeat, fun pop synths that remind us a lot of the 80s, and it partially draws comparison to CYNDI LAUPER’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Even though Kennedy‘s lyrics seem to take a more serious meaning with them referencing the double standards of gender representation within the music industry, it’s fun and catchy, and it has a whimsical theme to it. Love You From A Distance continues the trend of ‘happy sounds, sad lyrics’ as explorations of feelings of being lost in a relationship are accompanied by funky beats that you could easily to dance and bop along to. Essentially, the first two songs are perfect to dance and cry along to.

This is when things become much more vulnerable. Whitstable Harbour is certainly darker in sound, yet remains gentle, but it’s He Is where things really hit hard. A recurring theme throughout the EP is the exploration of identity, with Kennedy being non-binary themself; He Is tells the story of the male alter-ego from their childhood as they were gradually figuring out who they are. It’s so beautifully written and can perhaps be helpful for people going through a similar scenario or to help explain those feelings of confusion around finding yourself. We applaud any artist for being so vulnerable and honest in their song-writing.

A short statement to describe this EP would be ‘lovely lyrics and infectious beats’. It’s a skill when an artist can create a song with fun sounds whilst also dealing with sadder and darker parts of life. PAIGE KENNEDY is someone who has put their soul out on display when it comes to their identity and offers honesty about the stages of figuring out who they are, and we feel every emotion they went through.

Rating: 8/10

Doubles is set for release on April 14th via self-release.

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