Evie Balfe is a London-based singer songwriter who is originally from a little nearer by – Lincolnshire. She’s featured on the blog a couple of times before, through shares of her singles Wearing A Crown and Toxicity. Both tracks feature on her debut album Do I Feel Like I’m Happy Now?
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by James Albarn
Evie created the album with help from her co-writer and producer James Albarn but it feels like a very personal collection. Exploring her struggles with self-esteem and identity, we delve deep into Evie’s world and her mind. The story opens in a vulnerable place with Wearing A Crown. In it Evie explores the difficulty in finding happiness through a moody, intimate and ever expanding electro pop arrangement.
Birds Of A Feather seethes with a repressed anger that comes to the fore during a textured chorus. Toxicity explores Evie’s difficulties with sexual identity and the homophobia she’s encountered as a bi-sexual woman. Stripped-back and piano led, Evie’s vocals are at her most compelling here. The first half of the album is then rounded off by a cover of Labrinth’s I’m Tired, on which Evie really puts her own stamp.
Headstrong starts the second half of the album in a light but vibrant way. After a few slow songs, its gentle electronic groove is a timely injection of energy. It’s a highlight that fans of Foals will appreciate. Time To Shift marks an emotional turning point, delivered through ethereal, layered electronica.
Grow brings the album’s most intimate and vulnerable moment before the album is closed by According To Maybe. Through all the doubt and apprehension experienced so far, the track marks Evie’s moment of acceptance and hope for the future. It’s a beautiful sentiment on which to end things.
This is a stunning debut from an artist that has a lot to lend the world. The kind of vulnerability she shows in her lyrics are wonderfully compelling and the production of this album really brings its emotion to life. If you’re a fan of Holly Humberstone or London Grammar then you need to listen to this album. If you’re not, give it a go anyway. Its themes are universal. You can listen to the whole of Do I Feel Like I’m Happy Now? below.
