It is a pleasure to welcome the incomparable Lynney Williamson back to the fold. Hailing from the Scottish scene with an aesthetic that is akin to a fever dream, Lynney has become the master of the art of the ‘sonic bridge.’ She is an artist deeply in love with the shimmering, nostalgic beat of 1980s synth-pop. Still, she is also keenly aware of making it sound current through her crafty songwriting and crystal-clear production sensibility. Her music is situated in that perfect balance where hooks exist, yet emotionally bare storytelling is at the forefront. It’s radio-ready, yet it possesses an indie essence that is sure to capture the attention of even the most selective tastemakers. If you’re anything like me, Lynney’s past single, “I See You,” hasn’t just been playing in your playlists, but in your head since the first time you heard it. And now, with the release of her EP, Lynney, out on February 27th, we’re invited to enter a new chapter in the artist’s work, one that is an awe-inspiring list of songs that are both intimate and cinematic, so let’s get the beat of this fabulous new music!

“I SEE YOU” is the EP’s first track. The song does not begin with a bang; instead, it starts with a distinct rhythmic chime, like a bright synth melody slicing through a thick fog of feel-good melodies. The pulsing, driving bassline is quickly added, giving the song an urgent dance rhythm from the very start. The song can be classified as a “rescue mission” in lyrical form. Based on the experience of witnessing a close friend struggle through the thick fog of grief and physical adversity, this song is about the strength of loyalty. This is about the protective feeling that comes over us when we watch someone we love start to “drown” in their world.

The theme of this song is radical empathy; it’s about saying to someone not when they are happy, but when they are in pain and trying to hide it. I don’t know about you, but the song made me want to be a good friend and take off the rose-tinted glasses I see my friends through, actually see when they’re hurting, and help them before it’s too late. The music of this song can be classified as a brilliant example of “emotional camouflage.” While the lyrics are very poignant, the music can be classified as pure 80s euphoria, with shimmering synths and a hook that never lets the listener wallow in misery. Lynney’s vocal work here is very powerful and clear; there’s a feeling of triumph over the melancholy. This is a “danceable sanctuary”; the listener feels recognized and uplifted, proving that you can feel the depths of pain and still move toward the light.

Next is “LOST”. This song is unadorned, removing the glitz of the neon lights, and begins with the organic, unadulterated sound of a tape being put in a tape recorder. There is an immediacy, an impression of walking into a room in the midst of something happening. The subject matter is an exploration of the soul amid complete displacement. It is the terrifying, yet quiet, moment when the path you were walking is gone, and you don’t even recognize the face staring back at you in the mirror. It is the in-between spaces of life, the space after the big loss, where you are made to sit with yourself in the silence. The musical elements are constructed through the use of “mystical indie.” Our character is in her feelings and is still in a state of tension, a hard bridge to cross. The instrumentation is light, allowing the emotion to breathe, with the warmth of the acoustic strings and the ambient textures in the background. Lynney’s vocals are breathtakingly vulnerable; her breathing is used as an instrument in its own right, her voice cracking slightly to give the impression of a whispered secret. For the listener, there’s a heavy sense of relatability to the experience. There are no answers here, just a hand to hold as you’re making your way through the darkness.

“RUNNING OUT OF TIME” is the song that follows. The intro hits with a sharp, staccato synth stab followed by a fast-paced, ticking electronic beat that mimics the literal pressure of a stopwatch. It creates an instant sense of “sonic anxiety” that is both catchy and stressful. Through this song, we meet a persona who has just left a toxic relationship. She lets the person who is causing her pain know that his time is slowly running out because he no longer has any power over her. This is an anthem for the girlies, for us to take back our power!  Musically, it’s a high-octane, adrenaline-fueled track. The bass is heavy and driving, propelling the track forward with no letup. Lynney’s vocals are more precise here, with a rhythmic, almost “chatty” delivery in the verses that captures the frenetic mental state of someone under pressure. The sound builds to a crescendo in the chorus with harmonies that create a sense of a wall of sound crashing down. The effect on the listener is kinetic, a cathartic release of tension that makes you want to get behind the wheel of a car to keep up with the beat.

The EP ends with “MIDNIGHT DRIVE”. The EP wraps up with a cinematic feel, starting with a low hum of an engine-like synth drone that slowly builds into a smooth, velvet-like bass groove. It’s the sound of a car leaving the driveway onto an empty highway at 2:00 AM. The theme here is the “beautiful escape”: the peacefulness of being on the move, with your troubles left in the rearview mirror, even if only for a few hours. The lyrics are about the “flow” of the road and the inner peacefulness that can only be found when the rest of the world is not. Musically, this is the most “vibe-heavy” track on the album. It’s got lush instrumentation, soft synth pads, and a repetitive guitar riff that evokes the image of passing streetlights. Lynney’s vocals are also the most “liquid” in this track, as she goes for a soulful, effortless delivery that’s like a cool breeze on a summer day. The result is a feeling of peace and closure, as if you’ve just finished a long journey and are now ready to go home.

In “Lynney,” we see an artist who is pursuing the golden hour of her memory. She talks about a desire to capture the warmth and unadulterated joy of her childhood influences and drape them in a romanticism reminiscent of the 1980s. And yet, it is not simply a nostalgic exercise; she is putting these synth-pop/synthwave elements to use in a way that feels hers uniquely. It’s like the EP is a rich travelogue of sound. We go from the undeniable, magnetic pull of “I See You” into the darker, more introspective corners of “Lost,” before getting swept up in the cinematic, urgent feel of “Running Out of Time.” Each of these songs is a testament to the art that Lynney so skillfully wields, blending the beat with the human experience. I’ve seen Lynney grow twice now, and I can say with absolute certainty that once you’ve managed to cultivate a taste for the unique brand of magic that Lynney wields, there’s simply no going back. I’m already looking forward to the “repeat” function, waiting to see what Lynney will come up with next.

Stream the “Lynney” EP on Spotify.

 

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