Talia Grace is an Austin, Texas, USA-based artist who has just come to my attention thanks to the release of her new EP, From Under You.

By Graeme Smith

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Bon Iver, Noah Gundersen and Sufjan Stevens, Talia aims to write music full of relatable lyrics and emotion.

From Under You is a collection of four tracks that take the listener of a journey. Opening with despair, we find ourselves rising with fight, before finally finding ourselves in triumph. It’s set in that period of life, the early to mid 20s, when we are finding our way to adulthood and who we really are as a person.

There’s a lot of Talia in it, and she doesn’t shy away from relating difficult events in her life. The track Smoke, in particular, is a bold and cathartic exploration of a sexual assault she experienced, powerfully realised through devastating vocals and classically-infused melancholia. Elsewhere, she recounts tales of unrequited love (Lavender Latte), being used as a stepping stone (The Girl Before the Girl) and moving hopefully on from moments you’d rather forget (Greedy Reminders).

Throughout, Talia gives us some strong storytelling detail with her lyrics, and her charismatic vocals are given plenty of space from instrumental arrangements that go from delicately stripped-back to explosively cinematic. There are some experimental moments tied in with pop and singer songwriter sensibilities, in a way that each track feels unique and keeps us guessing what will come next.

In this new EP, Talia shows us that her greatest strength is her vulnerability. If you’re looking for some well-written and hard-hitting stripped-back pop today, look no further than From Under You.

From Under You features Talia Grace on vocals and piano, Taylor Webb on production and guitar, and Dave Wiley on strings for the track Smoke. The EP was recorded in Taylor’s apartment. It’s out now on Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes and you can give it a listen below.