Fiona-Lee - Nothing Compares to Nineteen

Growing up hurts, and Fiona-Lee's debut EP 'Nothing Compares to Nineteen' captures that specific ache of early adulthood with unflinching honesty and warmth, even as it wrestles with grief, exploitation, and the endless quest for validation in our digitally-mediated world.

The title-track sets the emotional stakes early, processing the devastating loss of a friend to suicide. It's heavy stuff, but Fiona-Lee's deft touch keeps it from collapsing under its own weight. 'Mother' comes out swinging at music industry vultures with all the fury of a young PJ Harvey, her voice carrying equal measures of silk and switchblade.

Highlight 'Lavender' sees Fiona-Lee's voice cut through carefully layered instrumentation like sunlight through storm clouds, and her keen eye for detail and melodic instincts elevate 'When I Wake Up I'm Sad' into something special. The EP closes with 'To Make Me Feel Good', a clear-eyed look at social media's empty promises that's a fitting bookend to a collection that's all about finding authenticity in an increasingly artificial world.

If the emotional intensity of 'Nothing Compares to Nineteen' occasionally threatens to overwhelm, it's hard to fault an artist for matching form to function so precisely. Growing up is messy business, after all.