Drawing inspiration from family photos and cinematic nostalgia, and influenced by songwriters like Tom Waits and Randy Newman, Raindrops on the Lens is the new EP from The Easter Parade.

By Graeme Smith

The music of Matt Steven’s The Easter Parade has been appearing on our blog since the end of 2024. After Jane sat down with the Midlands-based artist for an interview, I shared his EP’s second single, Yesterday’s Grace.

The track sits at the end of the EP, providing a particularly poignant moment before a live version of Adeline rounds things off.

Before that, we are welcomed into the record’s world by a classic string Prologue that pours naturally into Sing Our Kids To Sleep. There’s an immediate sense of intimacy in the track’s composition. A gentle piano lullaby leads the instrumental while Steven’s lyrics are full of tangible detail. As the track progresses, it builds, becoming powerfully stirring.

At the heart of the EP is its title track. It’s a delicately introspective moment, captivating in its melody and storytelling lyrics. The emotion is high during a soulful chorus full of longing.

Raindrops on the Lens was primarily written and recorded at Steven’s Northamptonshire studio, Indigo Scala. Much of the EP was recorded live, aiming to capture a moment rather than construct one.

The EP is out now, and you can listen to it below.