ggwendolyn Lets Us in on the Chaos of Figuring Yourself Out in "nancy & the crooked cowboy"
If ggwendolyn hasnât been on your radar yet, now is the time to start listening.
The aesthetics of ggwendolynâs world consist of grainy videos on film, deeply personal confessions, and hand-drawn album art, which create a profoundly intimate window into her emotions. Her music offers an eclectic and candid look at depression, unrequited love, and the chaos that comes with figuring yourself out. Her first body of work is a cohesive and remarkable debut so fundamentally unlike any other EP in the genre that it deserves a front-to-back listen.
ânancy & the crooked cowboyâ arrives after three singles from the artist: âorion,â âmy year of rest & relaxation,â and âred eye,â all of which appear on the EP alongside new songs âiâm so tiredâ and âcrooked cowboy.â âred eye,â the first track on the EP, touches on the spiraling emotions that come with being in an unhealthy relationship where youâd rather be with them, even though it hurts, rather than be alone. Itâs a poignant look into self-deprecation and misery as she grapples with losing yourself in a relationship, confessing âI would rather care about you than care about me right now / Itâs easier to love you first than love myself somehow.â
With âorion,â ggwendolyn flaunts her songwriting prowess, incorporating cosmic imagery into her story about pining after a distant lover while simultaneously producing earworm melodies and an addictive chorus that youâll find yourself humming throughout your day. âiâm so tired,â a Fugazi cover, is stripped-down and understated, featuring ggwendolyn singing at her piano as she laments her exhaustion with life. Her captivatingly delicate vocals are on full display here, as well as her clever wordplay, particularly with the lyric âIâm so tired, sheep are counting me.â
âmy year of rest & relaxationâ borrows its name from Otessa Moshfeghâs popular novel that delves into themes of substance abuse, depression, and isolation. The song itself is deceptively upbeat as she ponders her own lethargic habits and struggles with finding her voice as a musician. The production is bold and brash, rejecting any sense of conventionality as she creates a soundscape that captures the feelings of existential dread without sacrificing a catchy, pop-laden hook. The final installment, âcrooked cowboy,â is ggwendolynâs raunchiest and most electrifying track on the EP. Explores the idea of chasing after someone to the point of delusion, it doesnât lose her signature moody vocals and lyrical wit.
ggwendolyn possesses a rare talentâthe ability to create a sonic tapestry that is both nostalgic and refreshingly unique. Itâs impossible not to be swept away by her heartfelt lyrics and evocative imagery, and itâs unbelievably clear after listening to ânancy & the crooked cowboyâ that she is one of the most talented, underrated artists to watch.
Listen to nancy & the crooked cowboy below: