Released: 20th November 2020
‘Because I Wanted You To Know’ explores the highs and lows of falling in love, with no holds barred. Opening with the happy-go-lucky ‘Happy Anniversary, Stranger’, which tells a tale of love at first sight (“hello stranger, I think I love you”), Matilda Mann induces all the excitement of a protagonist filled with a mixture of butterflies and nerves as she coyly says, “Maybe if you’d like to, I think we should talk soon.”
The tone shifts to a sombre a capella in ‘Robbed’. Riding the rollercoaster of emotions that love is, the shift in emotion and atmosphere is so sudden that Mann barely has time to make sure “all arms, hands, legs and feet are inside the ride vehicle at all times” before sending her listener off on this heartsick ride.
‘As It Is’ is the “Que Sera Sera” track of the EP as mournfulness is swapped for acceptance. Sonically, this track builds to a climax that never comes, and that’s because it culminates in the final release, ‘Japan’. It’s in this conclusion that we see how Mann has been coming to terms with a break-up; the 20-year-old singer-songwriter daydreaming of being able to fly away to get over someone. She’s got that ‘catch flights, not feelings’ mindset down to a T.
‘Japan’ is beautiful, calming the heartbroken. There’s something about her soft soprano which soothes and coos her listener while singing the satirical lyrics “I’ll just fly to Japan and cry” – if only it were that easy aye, Matilda. But to her defence, she was inspired by binge-watching Gossip Girl. If living that Blair Waldorf fantasy is what it takes to get over somebody, then so be it.
