EP REVIEW: is this what i lofi? – Yours Truly

If you thought there was nothing else YOURS TRULY could do to surprise you – you would be wrong. The pop-punk quartet from Sydney, Australia have had an incredible couple of years; following the release of their debut studio album Self Care back in 2020, the band opted to mix things up with their fourth EP is this what I look like?, which was revealed in the summer and explored vocalist Mikalia Delgado‘s personal battles with her identity and sense of belonging following the never ending lockdowns in Australia as a result of the pandemic. However, it is clear that the band aren’t ready to cut ties with this body of work just yet. They have just released a reimagined lo-fi version of the EP, titled is this what i lofi?.

is this what i lofi? offers fans old and new a fully immersive listening experience, ultimately showing even more depth and possibility in YOURS TRULY‘s already energetic music. The band have also incorporated more personality into this updated version, with their own personal interest in gaming at the forefront. They spoke about the process of creating this newly imagined body of work: “After working on an interactive game for our EP is this what i look like? we wanted to add lofi versions of all our songs to the game as we all like to listen to chill lofi playlists while we game… People can listen to the original tracks to be hyped, but if they want something a little more chill – we have these versions now.” It is evident that gaming plays a huge part in YOURS TRULY‘s downtime as a band, which is pushed even further with vocalist Delgado‘s recent involvement in the creation of the soundtrack of action-adventure game Bayonetta 3. This is a band who are keen to expand their musical horizons and it shows.

is this what i lofi? starts off on a great note with the opening track Walk Over My Grave. From the first note it builds intrigue with the immediate calm and relaxed nature of this version of the song in comparison to the feisty high-energy original. The ambient theme runs apparent throughout the remainder, and it instantly puts the listener in a better, more present state of mind. Bruises is a far cry from the original, especially without the feature from STRAY FROM THE PATH‘s vocalist Drew York.

Careless Kind helps the listener get lost in an imaginary world. Aside from gaming, it feels as though this newly imagined version of the EP would be the perfect antidote for anyone suffering with mental health issues such as anxiety. is this what i look like? is up next, which is an incredible mini snippet within the EP, sitting at just one minute and 33 seconds in length. However, this definitely doesn’t signify any less memorability – it is just as impactful and powerful as the rest.

The original version of Hallucinate features a segment from YOU ME AT SIX‘s vocalist Josh Franceschi. In the lo-fi adaptation of this track, all instrumentals are stripped bare. YOURS TRULY‘s typical energetic pop-punk sound is thrown completely out of the window here. Instead, we are treated to an optimistic sounding instrumental track, which has bundles of vibrancy despite the initially dark lyrical content. If You’re Drowning (I’ll Learn How To Hold My Breath) is a musical masterpiece, providing hope to fellow mental health suffers. Even though no actual lyrics are sung throughout the duration, you still manage to feel a real sense of security and comfort knowing that YOURS TRULY are by your side to support you musically. Closer Lights On is the perfect ending to is this what i lofi?. The production is outstanding throughout, with the instrumentation progressing enough to keep you engaged all the way until the very end.

YOURS TRULY are undoubtedly doing everything in their power to put themselves on the map and it’s definitely working. By trialling out new and innovative ways to change up their sound, the band add so much depth to their existing and exciting presence within the pop-punk genre. They are consistently changing and evolving for the better and we are genuinely so excited to see what they do in the future.

Rating: 9/10

is this what i lofi? is out now via UNFD. 

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