EP REVIEW: Room Service – Chapel

Atlanta’s pop duo CHAPEL are still an underground name despite touring alongside the likes of Myspace kings 3OH!3 as well as WATERPARKS, GOOD CHARLOTTE and SUM 41. Five years after their inception, they’re about to drop their second EP, Room Service, which will hopefully change that.

Depressing pop has proven to be quite successful over the years; see TWENTY ONE PILOTS, POST MALONE, LIL PEEP or any other SoundCloud/emo rapper for example. CHAPEL are taking their pop sound, which was first established in 2017 with their debut EP Sunday Brunch, and have elevated it even further. This four-track release is far more mellow overall and gives an insight into how RnB has helped influence them. Despite every song being subdued in topic, from lost loves to anxiety, the style of the production is such a stark contrast, the glum lyrics are almost overlooked.

Pillow Talk opens the release with a dark tone not heard elsewhere, as deep bass, low-tuned guitar and drawling vocals ae barely touched by obvious production for the most part. The emotion still comes through in Carter Hardin’s vocals, despite the carefree attitude given off, resulting in a conflicting mood of calm and melancholy. However, the following three tracks are driven by stronger percussion and enhancements that drive them further. Miss The Days juxtaposes gentle piano with swung RnB beats and euphoric synth, unintentionally lifting its spirit. Wow follows, giving us a track that could be a collaboration between POSTIE and TAYLOR SWIFT: very upbeat with faster percussion and finally giving us a big chorus. Closer First Love features cutesy twinkles and high pitch squeaks that enrich the RnB beats and create a more relaxed vibe.

Production-wise, this is impressive. Produced and engineered by Hardin and drummer Kortney Grinwis, the pair know exactly how to strengthen their compositions. At no point have they become trigger-happy with sampling or overbearing distortions. Each additional note is precisely layered and creates texture exactly where needed. No bar feels empty or overwhelming. If this is the subgenre CHAPEL wish to continue with in future, they’ve clearly already mastered the most important part themselves.

On one hand, Room Service is short and sweet, with the longest song standing at less than two and a half minutes. On the other though, each one feels like its over before you can even comprehend them, especially as the lyrics are so intriguing. As an album featuring a few more tracks of this tone, or maybe even just an extra minute added onto each one, Room Service could be a far stronger release. If this short EP is just a preview of them testing the waters, then it’s certainly done the job of having listeners asking for more – out of pure curiosity at least.

Rating: 6/10

Room Service is out now via Rise Records.

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