For those who enjoy singer songwriters and pianos, this EP is great to put on.
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Great
Alec Ryan is a Nashville pop artist with heart. Traditionally a pop enthusiast, he traded the overproduced state of pop for electric guitar riffs and pianos to create something more intimate on his EP, Pen. In the realm of Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness, Ben Folds and Ben Lee, Alec Ryan’s layered vocals and mid-tempo piano makes Pen just as playful as anything a dance club mix could bring. Throwing it back to his songwriting roots, the EP “explores both life’s danceable moments and times of soul-searching.”
The first track “Move” kicks the EP off as the fullest with plenty of keys, cooing, layered vocals, clapping and snare. Yet, it’s the follow-up track “Warm Heart Cold Shoulder” garnering up attention. Writing about “life’s struggles, ranging from love to the unending pursuit of a meaningful existence” shines through on this seemingly somber track. The build-up to stronger keystrokes coupled with a female vocal duet bring this track to life with jazzy elements.
Closing out the EP with “3/21” and “Let Yourself Fall”, the two songs contrast the light and dark in life Ryan is going through. A longing in “3/21” with lyrics like, “it’s 3:21 at night and I can’t help but wonder if you’re alright,” shine as the emotional weight of the EP. Where the track drops off and “Let Yourself Fall” begins, the unrequited love aspect of the EP brings about clarity and letting yourself feel sad about something you weren’t planning on experiencing. Ryan shows this theme throughout the EP, which anyone can relate to, and it couldn’t have been said in a better way.
