Live Review: May Lyn is refreshingly defiant on 'Keep Up With Me' ft. Ealing
After a strong 2017, Brisbane artist May Lyn has started off stronger than ever on 'Keep Up With Me' ft Ealing - a sparse, mysterious yet defiant track.
Last year was a strong year for Brisbane artist MAY LYN, and 'Keep Up With Me' ft. Ealing - her first release of 2018 - has shown that she hasn't slowed down one bit.
Taking cues from artists like FKA TWIGS and LAURYN HILL and distilling it through her own uniquely atmospheric and evocative sound, May Lyn quickly rose through the ranks with her 2015 debut 'Ascension' and 2016's 'Escape'. Her EP, Vessels, which dropped last year, earned her international recognition and was named one of 2017's best releases by us - and for dang good reason. Fast forward to now and 'Keep Up With Me' has the hallmarks of Lyn's distinctive vocals and strong songwriting, but it's a darker and more sparse direction for her.
Built around what sounds like a warped sample of Boards of Canada's 'Oirectine', the track is a lot more minimal thanks to the ambient styling of ealing. The BoC sample runs ominously in the background while trap-adjacent percussion clicks and snaps in the background, grounding the listener in the heavily distant and reverberating soundscape. Lyn's vocal presence is as strong as ever thanks to the production, giving her plenty of room to defiantly address a toxic relationship.
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The pared-back production shows that May Lyn is just as strong behind a minimal mix as she is behind a bustling one. With her vocals and songwriting firmly on display she's not only outdone herself, but displayed a bold new direction. If 'Keep Up With Me' is indicative of what's to come, we can't wait to see what she does next.
IMAGE BY JAC MEDDINGS
WORDS BY MAX LEWIS
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