NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Sophia Alexa ‘Emily’
8 November 2023
After her debut single ‘Wake up You’re Stuck’, Eden Rain has only gone on to do bigger and beautiful acts. Leeds-born, London-based, Rain’s exposure to a range of culture is clear from the muses of her work.
Her playful references to Tamagotchi’s and sugar babies lends itself to what most twenty somethings can relate to, and dry humour welded to catchy lyrics have made Eden Rain a quick sensation.Yet the most mesmerising thing about her music is her voice, so distinct and original,a similar new shiny sound that gave Mitski her fame. Everything Eden Rain writes moves with such ease, it’s hard not to listen to everything she’s written. Obsession could easily sprout when you listen to a talent so recognisable.If you were blindfolded, upside down and underwater, she’d still make your head bop.
This week, Eden Rain released her latest single ‘All Things Change’ on November 9.
It is definitely at a slower pace than beloved singles like ‘Crumb’ or ‘Sugar Baby’ but perfect for November, the peak of seasonal depression. Particularly in her darker imagery, like trying to take ‘a bath with a toaster’ but her lyrics don’t exaggerate a breakup or a loss.It highlights an acceptance, but also the internal struggle of their emotions remaining conflicting and inconstant to this former part of your life. This is accumulated in the phrase “The girl I am is not who I was’’ and “the thing that stops the hurting/ is knowing nothing’s certain’ ‘ in a sombre philosophical argument. The harmonies, unlike most of Rain’s music, perfectly fits the ballad with a Greek chorus of emotion to bring to light each aspect of minor and modal colours that sweep across this score. Written two years ago, Eden Rain said this was written at a point when she believed nothing in her life could change, and releasing it now feels almost ironic to the thoughts and feelings that harmonise in this song.
Rain’s use of distortion in her music made me even more curious to see her live. Would this be included, or did it sort of take the magic away, like man behind the curtain?
At the Lower Third, Eden had two amazing support artists to start – PEARL and Ashlie Skye. Ashlie’s intimacy and friendliness with the crowd created the perfect warm-up act, from the way she guided us through each song and its meaning beforehand, it really felt ‘like she’s singing only to me’ as my friend Lara whispered to me. The vulnerable acoustics, set up with only a guitar, set the incredible standard for the rest of the evening. Knowing nothing about Ashlie’s music before, I loved ‘Laundry’ and ‘Little Brown Box’ with their candid testimonies to big and small loves. The romantic nature of her music left many of us swaying along, but don’t be fooled into thinking she’s one of many. Ashlie’s lyricism is where she shines, from god complexes to an all- consuming love were incredibly relatable to most in the crowd.
PEARL was next, performing with a live band for the first time in her budding musical career. Everything about her set was angelica from her surreal whistle notes to the floaty white dress she wore. It was electric, alternative, and dreamy pop in the best way. Like a psychedelic explosion of colour and more, only intensified by an incredible band. PEARL’s soft nature, both on and off the stage, showed off the idiosyncrasies that continue to add to her growing popularity. Her heavenly vocals carve out a new place entirely. It was so breathlessly different to anything I’d seen before, I was left wondering whether I had dreamt of her set.
When Eden came on at 9, she looked honestly surprised when the club roared with excitement. Her first words into the mic were showing off the sylvanian families her friend gave her. The unique voice I’d come to love, truly bloomed in a live setting where she could fully explore new riffs and tremolos. As she went through her setlist I noticed many were large fans of her music,singing along when they could.
Eden Rain was clearly adored on Tuesday 14th at the Lower Third.
Between each song she was chatty with her audience, saying she spoke not from nerves, but just an inability to stop talking. She described how her music was entering a new chapter, one her and her bandmates had decided to title “Lorde on Crack”. That got a terrific laugh from the crowd. Halfway through her set she played ‘All Things Change’ and it was clear how much it meant to her and the poignant effect that had on the crowd. She spoke about writing it two years ago, how much it had felt like, despite the lyrics nothing was going to change, and yet so much had changed since that moment. Witnessing her say this to a packed crowd who had been vocal about their idolisation all night was monumental..
She also played two unreleased songs, which excited me to no end. One was about her partner of four years, who she met in Toulouse on their year abroad, and the next was from her upcoming EP if memory serves me correctly. The last song, Sugar Baby, truly came to life, with the projections painted across her face as she sang.
When the set ended, the Lower Third fizzled with excitement, as me and Lara looked at one another and said ‘Did that just happen?” Eden Rain’s sound is unique and interesting to listen to, but entirely captivating and consuming live. Bravo.