In announcing the second extended play in her EP trilogy, Adesso, Texas-based artist Sophia Warren has released the dream pop-adjacent “Static,” a melancholic look into the past. Lovers of early Cocteau Twins and late Brandi Carlile will enjoy the contradiction between the serene music and solemn lyrics of Warren’s new single.
“Static” takes a slightly different approach from Warren’s past releases with a move away from the 90s rock of the Bloodstone EP. Yet, the dream pop (another 90s staple) elements of this song feel like a natural progression in the EP trilogy. This influence is quickly set up in the song’s introduction with a heavily delayed and echoed drum set. Doubled electric guitars full out the space and follow behind Warren’s vocals wonderfully. A string-sounding synth pad signals any change of phase in the song to help keep the slow movement without becoming too monotonous.
Additionally, the synth has a slight crackle to it, similar to a cassette tape, which only adds to the sad nostalgia. The entire pace of the song is purposefully held back and the instrumentation makes sure to build up to anything dramatic. This works for the overall message of the song, with the deliberate slowness hinting at the reflective manner of the lyrics.
Warren says the song is about “the moments I’ve replayed endlessly, slowly losing their shape but never their hold on me.” The verses follow the same structure and share some lyrics hinting at the repetitive nature of these taunting memories. The chorus contains the lyrics, “video tapes I avoid again,” using the image of household family videos to strike at the nostalgia of listeners and the heartbreak that can come with unwanted memories. This is summed up perfectly with the lyric, “static seems to linger on it,” which ties up the song’s message in a neat little bow.
“Static” is a great start for Sophia Warren’s upcoming Adesso EP with insight into the progression of Warren’s artistry and music. It’ll be exciting to see where Warren takes herself in Adesso, releasing on the 30th of April.
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