New York City, USA-based artist Faerie, real name Christine Lam, is no stranger to this blog. I’ve shared four singles of hers over the past couple of years, including a few taken from her new EP dizzy spells. Her first EP release since 2021, Christine has used it as a opportunity to experiment with her sound, and the results are pretty special.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Ciara Nicdao
There’s a nostalgic feel to dizzy spells. It’s a collection born from Christine’s formative years in the 2010s, listening to the likes of HAIM, Tame Impala and Arctic Monkeys and experiencing both the good and the bad of love. What we get from the EP is an honest collection of emotional yet breezy dream pop, with lovely touches of psychedelia and folk.
It opens with virgo sun, a previously unreleased track. It’s a delicate start, with gentle vocalisations and a looping acoustic guitar melody. Christine’s knack for storytelling is apparent from the off, as she paints a picture of bittersweet reunion. As the track develops, it becomes more cinematic with jazz elements. Production comes from Matty Bedrosian and he and Christine have worked together to create something top class. It’s a strong start.
K-town has featured before on the blog. Its tale of suppressed trauma feels well-placed in this collection and it provides a lively, country-fused contrast to virgo sun. Cheapest hotel room is the EP’s second unreleased track. It’s a laidback, sultry folk-pop number that paints a vivid picture of lurid, lost innocence.
The EP is rounded off by showgirl and champagne tears. Both previously shared on the blog, there’s a welcome familiarity about them, but also a greater understanding of the direction Christine’s music in headed in when included as part of this collection. Showgirl wonderfully showcases her captivating vocals while champagne tears provides a bright and dreamy final note.
If there was any doubt that Faerie is a project to be excited about, dizzy spells puts them to bed. It’s such a wonderfully written and put-together collection that ought to get Christine some well-deserved attention in the underground indie pop scene. You can check out the whole EP below.
