Yours Truly – is this what i look like? | EP Review

Allowing a collaborative space for the mutation of musical exploration, while pushing their inspirations to the limit with a diary-like presence in hopes of creating some self-soothing symphonies; the thunder from down-under Yours Truly, strive for the continuation of adaptability with a thrash-tastic take on contemporary Pop Punk bops with their latest extended play - is this what i look like.

Originally intended to be a three-track reissued extension to their late-Summer of 2020 debut studio album Self-Care; the Sydneysiders sought an unfiltered perception of contemporary life, via delving into the dark and dismal side of the human psyche which was greatly informed by the pandemic blues. In championing the truth above all else; is this what i look like currently stands as a sort of unshackling from progressive trepidation, which has given rise to an unbridled fearlessness within this drastic direction shift.

Throughout Yours Truly’s latest release there seems to be an unfortunate air of predictability, which lingers alongside their intriguingly potent grit; although the EP lands nowhere near the realms of atrociousness, a keen sense of harmlessness rings true to its overall appeal that can regrettably border on being somewhat forgettable. With such a hyped era promising a hefty weight of emotional availability, such examples of engaging concoctions include ‘Hallucinate’ featuring You Me At Six frontman Josh Franceschi, as well as their latest single ‘Careless Kind’.

‘Hallucinate’ conjures the essence of a “loners guide to the art of dissociation”, with a trippy yet troubling spiral into rumination induced desolation; the inclusion of Josh Franceschi’s soaring distortion is a welcomed one, as a rippling vocal dance off between him and lead singer Mikaila Delgado plays out, causing a brief moment of ascension to a place of boundless connectivity where the collective have earned our undivided attention.

While ‘Careless Kind’ seems to represent a curious tale of two halves, as it’s verses are filled to the brim with dark washed odes to the fear of one’s own pain being exposed, which is perfect for some Emo/Alt vibes; while it’s chorus feels like an Indie bands first attempt at a surf rock informed Pop Punk track, whose lyrics harbour an ambivalent lackadaisical attitude which favours the feel of a more “should I/shouldn’t I” lovers internal quarrel.

We feel that this dichotomous brew is in need of being split into two and worked upon as separate entities to capture an improved sense of cohesion; this would not only provide some potential of ascendance to musical greatness, but maybe push the band to continue their already big strides into heavier sounding and heavier hitting exposé’s.

Overall, the listening experience of is this what i look like? wasn’t a terrible one. At points it was an enjoyable ride, as well as worth the persistence needed to get through areas in possible need to tweaking. It acts as a first look at a newly invigorated band, whose boldness is in need of the upmost respect from fans and casual listeners alike. It’s only downfall, is at times’ its ability to fade into the background; in reality there’s only really three out of seven inclusions that have the capacity to pop into our day dreams and even then it’s mostly just the brilliant hooks.