EP REVIEW: Illustrator – Chris Urriola

CHRIS URRIOLA wasn’t always a guitar player. In fact, he started off as a bassist who simply decided to fine tune his guitar playing. His songwriting soon developed into a stream of consciousness and he decided to make an EP after arriving at South First Sound in Brooklyn with his band, HOLLIS BROWN. After 30 or so demos were made, with help from friends and past bandmates, four were chosen to make up Urriola‘s debut EP Illustrator.

Cintro starts off with a fast-paced instrumental introduction with a lot of guitars and drums. Whilst it does mellow slightly during the first half of the song, this is simply because it allows the vocals to be heard, and it actually does a nice job of setting up the even slower pace of subsequent track Oh No. The flow is good and the song is pleasant to listen to as the production makes the instruments and the vocals mix well together.

I Miss You is mostly a stripped back acoustic song; apart from an electric guitar and some synths mixed in, the song is a chance to show off the true talent of Urriola‘s voice, which is hypnotic. Furthermore, the mixture of the instruments in the song mean that the acoustic sound is kept fresh and unique, although if there is one issue it’s that the synths are a little harder to hear given how much they are mixed into the electric guitar. Of course, as this is Urriola‘s debut EP, there is plenty of more time for experimenting with different instruments further down the line. However, it does beg the question why they were included in the first place if they were to be buried under the other instruments.

The EP closes with On, which is surely its most upbeat and rockiest track. Even then it is still quite mid-tempo, but the lyrics are catchy and the instruments are joyful to listen to and it brings the EP full circle as it matches the upbeat opening of the first song.

Overall, Illustrator paints a very good picture of an exciting solo artist. It’s a cohesive, fun, and unique take on alternative rock music. It could have been easier to go for the more energetic route; however, Urriola shows that more mellow and acoustic fare can be just as fun and engaging. If you are looking for an exciting new artist who is set to make waves across the alternative rock scene, then this EP is the one for you.

Rating: 8/10

Illustrator is out now via self-release.

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