Agonizing elegance.
The debut EP from up-and-coming singer/songwriter Alani, Somewhere Between Saying It, is a heartbreaking, cathartic entrance into the young musician’s mind. Born and raised in London, the singer-songwriter has all the makings of becoming a young phenom.
The opening track, “April Showers,” opens with a simple piano and extraordinary vocals. Alani Hajithomas’s deep rasp sings of a great love that couldn’t withstand the changes brought on by the passing of time. As the song deepens, the vocals evolve into a passionate, layered cacophony of hurt. The halfway point of the song sees a gorgeous orchestral interlude, followed by painful memories of lies told and hearts broken.
The third song of the project, “ICLYA,” plays as the opposite of the opening track as Hajithomas admits “I can’t love you anymore.” Despite opening the song with the same solemn piano, the majority of the melody is punctuated by a dejected guitar. Hajithomas’s reliably powerful vocals do the heavy lifting, but the new instrument still manages to evoke the same despairing emotions brought forth from “April Showers.” This is no easy feat as, during this moment, the singer is the one breaking things off. As the song tapers out, the same piano returns for a farewell to the broken relationship.
Things shift gears with track two, “Dancing Through The Madness.” A guitar is happily strummed as Hajithomas sings of dancing through all of her woes. A saxophone breaks the chorus from the second verse, encouraging listeners to take up the same emotional respite. “Dancing Through The Madness” manages to incorporate all of the best vocals from the prior song and turn them into something completely different. Only two songs into the EP, Hajithomas proves to everyone listening that she can do it all. As the song comes to a close, the saxophone returns for a wild conclusion, showing that the singer’s self-proclaimed fiery ego was well–earned.
“Love 4 Free” manages to be the most honest and raw entry on an already open-hearted record. The simplicity of the stripped-back production lends a hand to the candor as Hajithomas wonders, “Why do I even try to be your trophy wife?” An entirely new side of Hajithomas emerges, one with a wounded ego, as she ponders if it was dumb to believe she could be loved for free.
“More Than Friends” investigates the modern problem of a relationship without labels. Despite countless flowers given and admissions of being someone’s “number 1,” the need to play it cool eventually outweighed the possibilities of anything real emerging through the confusion. The final minute of the EP, consisting of humming and percussion, leaves listeners to stew with all that they’ve just experienced.
Hajithomas created a world of beautiful pain with Somewhere Between Saying It. Diverse production and intelligently crafted lyrics take listeners on a journey of heartbreak and resilience. If it were possible to sum up the tumultuous experience of seeking love during young adulthood in only five songs, Alani Hajithomas has done it. The record manages to cover painfully relatable misery in a way that borders on comforting. Honey-sweet vocals bring about a wave of emotions that you can’t help but want to wash over you.
