Recommended Tracks: “The Edge,” “Sting,” “Altitude”
Artists You Might Like: Devon Gabriella, Grace Enger, Alix Page
Fall is a season of reflection, a time for learning from mistakes and letting go. It’s a time when temperatures gradually decrease, leaves fall and the days get shorter. For Texas-based singer-songwriter Sydney Ross Mitchell, change is never-ending. Her debut EP, Pure Bliss Forever, which dropped today, Oct. 4, is a deeply personal exploration of her experiences and perceptions of people. Mitchell sings about relationships with a sound and style fit for a coming-of-age movie soundtrack, making her debut a fitting reflection of the season of transition.
Mitchell has been making waves with her raw, honest lyricism and captivating storytelling. She first gained traction with tracks like “I Wish You Were Lonely” and “Altitude,” which has finally made its way to the tracklist after five years. Raised on early 2000s country music, Mitchell found catharsis through her songwriting. Her breakout hit, “The Edge,” also on the EP, now surpassing 2.2 million streams on Spotify as of today, Oct. 4, introduced listeners to her gentle, nostalgic sound and cemented her as an up-and-coming “folk dream pop” artist.
“The Edge,” reminiscent of Grace Enger’s recent single “It’s No Fun,” features nostalgic melodies, engaging acoustics and Mitchell’s soft, emotionally evocative vocals. The song explores the struggle to connect with her partner without prying, with references to a summer of intimacy (“And the season without you was relentless / But it finally came to an end”). As the seasons change, Mitchell reflects on how difficult it is to move on, capturing the ebb and flow that defines these changing emotions.
The lead single “Sting” plays on imagery between physical intimacy and emotional loneliness, suggesting a connection that’s both intoxicating and hurtful. Mitchell leans on electric guitar influences, while the metaphor of a spider trapped in a jar symbolizes feeling stuck in a situation — hesitant to end, yet suffocated by staying. When Mitchcell sings, “And I’m walking home alone And I can’t feel a thing But the sting,” she captures the bittersweet struggle of holding on while knowing it’s time to let go.
But still, Mitchell struggles to find any peace or fulfillment in her life on “Fast Cars and Faster Horses.” The song shows her search for a place to rest and relax amidst life’s chaotic nature, as she longs for something more meaningful than idealized experiences like fast cars and fleeting pleasures. Mitchell reflects on the emptiness that comes with chasing these temporary highs.
”Altitude” showcases Mitchell’s talent for crafting vivid, imagery-filled lyricism, as she explores this seemingly basic concept of distance — both emotional and physical — between two people once close. The song sounds like Noah Kahan’s Vermont-inspired vibe, as the stark, cold landscape of Nevada winters and the towering Sierra mountains symbolize the contrasts in their lives (“You’re high in the Sierra’s So far up off the ground It’s a long way back and a long way down”). It’s a beautifully reflective ballad on the EP that offers a serene, almost interlude-like moment amidst the dream pop soundscape.
Mitchell bares it all in the final tracks of her debut EP. On “Forward to the Kill,” she is a hopeless romantic, aware of what’s best for her yet letting things slip through the cracks. Her vulnerability shines in lines like, “I get high on telling lies like I’m a lover, hopeless and true / But we both know that I wouldn’t be herе if I believed that I could havе you.” The song captures this push and pull between desire and self-awareness.
The EP closes with the title track, “Pure Bliss Forever,” where Mitchell declares her deepest wants and longings. Initially, she dreams of “pure bliss forever” and “heaven on Earth,” before admitting that ultimately, she wanted this person — no matter the cost. With lines like, “I can’t let go, I don’t know how / I can’t go home, I love you now,” Mitchell’s emotional reckoning is laid bare. By the second chorus, the drums and synths explode and it feels nearly ethereal as she lets all her inhibitions go. This final moment feels like a cathartic declaration of the love she seeks moving forward.
At the end of the day, summer feels like the closing of one chapter, allowing a fresh start when fall arrives. On her debut EP, Pure Bliss Forever, Mitchell opens up, releases her emotions and tries to find some peace amidst the chaos. Seamlessly blending bedroom pop with indie folk, Mitchell establishes herself as an artist you’ll want to hear over and over again. After all, sometimes it doesn’t hurt you — it just stings.
Keep up with Sydney Ross Mitchell: Instagram // Spotify // X // TikTok // Website
