A man not afraid to bare all with his music, Dylan Forshner‘s new EP, Hopeless Optimism, gives us stories of depression, heartbreak and love.

By Graeme Smith

Across five tracks, Hopeless Optimism is richly raw and honestly relatable. From EP opener Under Control to its closing track, Wasn’t Satisfied, we are taken on an acoustic pop rock journey.

Dylan’s vocal has a way of captivating, full of character and an understated passion. He doesn’t hold back with his lyrics either. They’re simple but devastating as best exemplified by previously unreleased tracks Gimme Some Love and Wasn’t Satisfied. The former channels the best of ’60s rock and roll to tell a pleading tale of love while the latter goes hard with punk energy, unfolding over a blistering one minute and 39 seconds.

Elsewhere I’ll Be A Great Day injects some brooding, introspective moodiness to proceedings while You’re The One, a team up with Jess Knights, is a warm highlight.

Forshner is an artist who understands less is more, and the stripped-back nature of his new EP gives plenty of space to its tales of heartache. Yet, there’s plenty for the audiophile too, listen carefully and you’ll hear mellotron, glockenspiel and a suitcase used as a kick drum.

Hopeless Optimism is out now and you can give it a listen below.