Texas, USA-based duo MISSIO have featured once before on this blog, a few months ago when I ran the rule over their EP I Am High. Now they’re back with the third instalment of a series of EP releases, collectively titled Cinco. It’s called I Am Awesome.

By Graeme Smith

MISSIO are Matthew Brue and David Butler. The pair have been performing under name since 2015, and have sold out headline tours and performed at festivals like ACL and Lollapalooza.

Each of the entries in the Cinco series focuses on a different emotion and mindset. As the title suggests, I Am Awesome is about self-affirmation, inviting you to pursue your dreams and cast away your stress. It opens with the meditative Not My Fault. As ever with MISSIO, the genre is difficult to define. It combines elements of pop rock with something a little more unconventional. Distorted guitar underpin a light and airy arrangement, complete with an anthemic chorus. It’s a powerful start.

Heart Made of Dynamite takes things in a dance direction with some big synth chords and pacey percussion laying the groundwork for some soulful vocals. Goodbye to the Old Me softens things a little with an acoustic rock number that channels influences from the ’70s and ’90s. It’s a bright, mid-EP highlight.

Making Me Nervous provides a curveball with a track that combines lo-fi electronica and R&B. It bounces along at a decent whip while delivering an emotional and vulnerable tale. Run Away then closes the EP with some unabashed hard rock. Big riffs hit you right from the off before we arrive at a cathartic, singalong chorus. It’s a final highlight.

With this new EP, MISSIO continue to impress with their command of genres. They really do pack a lot into their EPs. I’m looking forward to the final two parts of Cinco!

I Am Awesome is out now via Nettwerk Music Group and you can check it out below.