Auckland, New Zealand-based singer-songwriter, Cecily shares her debut EP Thinking Bout M(EP) along with the brand new Kate-Bush-inspired single Mad Girl’s Love Song.
The six-track project sticks a middle finger in the air to anyone who presumes to tell Cecily ‘who she should be’. Packed with glittering synths and punchy, clever lyrics, Thinking Bout M(EP) proves Cecily to be the anti-princess of alt-pop that introverts, lone wolfs and bedroom artists deserve.
Her quick, dark-humour juxtaposes against her sugar-sweet melodies and angelic vocal prowess as Cecily explores toxic love, isolation, break ups, self-esteem, and feeling like a loser.
In fact, Cecily originally planned to release music under the moniker Cecily Is A Loser, and only decided to shorten the title to protect her Mother’s feelings.
For an artist taking on the pop realm, while representing outsiders of an isolated generation, Cecily is like a cool breathe of fresh air. Roisin Kelly dives into each track on Cecily’s new EP below.
1. Awake
Ever wanted to spend every waking second with someone?
Awake unpacks the insomnia-inducing feeling of over-attachment at the beginning of a new relationship. With a hook that’s even more addictive than Cecily’s connection, this warped love song will be bouncing around your head at all hours.
2. Feast
After feasting on the intensity of Awake, Cecily takes a light-hearted turn with her second offering.
Parodying party anthems that shamelessly instil the notion it’s exclusively rich, beautiful and famous people who have fun, Feast is a bouncy tune packed full with self-deprecating wit. “Don’t apologise for only being able to afford boxed wine,” quips Cecily, “It happens to the best of us.”
3. Red Flags
I can definitely relate to seeing a Red Flag and ignoring it, or perhaps even being “colour-blind” to it.
Red Flags sees Cecily go in on what it feels like to let low self-esteem affect your relationships.
From picking bad friends to dating liars, Cecily gets very raw and real on this infectious bop. The heart-breaking acceptance of bad behaviour, and Cecily feeling like that’s what she deserves is bravely revealed in this powerful electro-infused ballad.
4. I
I is a synthy pop number that explores the struggle of toxic thoughts and wanting to break up with the reflection in the mirror.
“The song is (literally) self-titled because it’s about wanting to move on from your past but your brain keeps you dwelling on darker emotions,” explains Cecily.
5. I Did It All
I Did It All is the ultimate introvert’s anthem. Speaking on the mood of the track, Cecily explains; “(it’s about) the feeling of powerlessness when your efforts aren’t recognised, to the point where you could scream.”
6. Mad Girl’s Love Song
Influenced by the Sylvia Plath poem of the same name and Kate Bush’s iconic track Wuthering Heights, Cecily’s brand new single Mad Girl’s Love Song is an ode to the bygone era of '80s female icons who embraced their unapologetically strange and independent natures.
The Kiwi songstress explores the relatable phenomenon of projecting fantasy on to reality. “Sometimes you realise that your fave parts of someone were actually the ones you created for them,” Cecily explains.
“This song was inspired by a very one-sided love and I realised that the reason I couldn't get over this person was because I didn't know them well enough so I 'made them up inside my head.' That line is from the Sylvia Plath poem which has the same name and I wrote the song after reading that poem because it really just made sense to me at the time.”
Cecily took special dance lessons for her contemporary performance (just like her muse Kate Bush). Watch a mesmerising Cecily twist and twirl her way through an eerie forest. I feel like there’s a nod to Twilight in there somewhere too…
From emotional turmoil to empowerment, Thinking Bout M(EP) is an eclectic and impressive introductory journey that showcases Cecily’s lyrical mastery and her skill for dark-humored bops.
