Brooklyn singer-songwriter Adelide explores the difficult terrain of young adulthood on The Way Up, a six-track EP. Blending soul, disco, and modern pop, the release reflects on toxic relationships, addiction, self-worth, and personal upheaval, with each song accompanied by a one-shot music video filmed on Super 16.
“Can’t Feel Alive” is a particularly strong example of Adelide’s sound, weaving a lush bass bounciness with washes of spacey synths, while lyricism captures the seemingly inescapable effects of toxic relationships. “Can’t sleep, can’t eat,” her delivery resonates, depicting an over-attachment where one is “drowning ’til I see your face” as prancing synths add to the mix. The initially smitten sentiments drive to a beloved admitting that they “deserve better than this,” then swelling into a soaring harmonic entrancement with yearning invigoration. “Let Go” feels like an insightful response, thematically, in its title-touting aim to rid oneself of past baggage and value self-worth over someone who doesn’t want to be with you.
Another magnetic track, “Circles” weaves starry-eyed synth tones with a romantic lyrical flow, emitting the process of finally meeting the right person. A funky bass line pairs seamlessly with the glistening synths, while the lead presence’s “can’t get away from you” sense of adoration flows into a hooky melodic heightening, asking “what can I do? it all comes back to you.” Its dream-pop character is further enhanced in the “I can feel your heartbeat” uptick in expressive intensity. Elsewhere, “Upstream” fuses balmy guitar complements amidst phrasing that admits to pretending everything is okay when it really isn’t, here in the context of loving someone with addiction issues. The “swimming upstream” chorus is gorgeous in Adelide’s escalated tone and shimmering synth/guitar interplay. The Way Up EP is filled with fantastic pop songwriting and from-the-heart lyricism from Adelide.
