Matilda Lyn Paints an Aching Portrait of Coming of Age in 'A Bowl of Unripe Fruit'
Photo: Jimmy Bui
Pop-princess-in-training Matilda Lyn’s debut EP has arrived with the eye-catching title, A Bowl of Unripe Fruit, and with it a glittery display of those complex circulating thoughts we all ponder while navigating the confusion of life. Hailing from Gothenburg, Lyn has been writing songs since she was a child and attended Sweden’s premiere music school, Musikmakarna, where her knack for music production and songwriting flourished.
A Bowl of Unripe Fruit explores how we exist in our own heads and in tandem with others. For her debut EP, Lyn showcases impressive emotionally stimulating lyricism about the individual experience while constantly relating it to the universal. It’s a collection of conclusions drawn from noticing the world around you—the actions of others, observing life unfold, feeling left behind, and more.
The project begins with the title track, a simple introduction to who Lyn is that highlights her enticing vocal delivery. The idea of A Bowl of Unripe Fruit represents the pursuit of constantly searching for the next best thing, never allowing yourself the time to let what you already have to fully “ripen.” An uncomplicated guitar strum accompanies this sophisticated metaphor while Lyn’s soft, angelic vocals captivate the listener. In a lullaby-like cadence she sings, “If I’d eat all peaches that I land / I’d still be craving something sweeter, better.”
Punchy anthem “Wait For Me” sees a more upbeat moment, channeling the twee sound of bubblegum indie rock. The easy-going sound of the track juxtaposes the lyrical content, in which she’s begging someone for a second chance. In “She,” Lyn sings of an abstract character that could be someone who’s passed away. As she sings, “Honestly I’m jealous of the angels,” the ethereal production and background harmonization mimics the lyrics to invoke a sparkly, heavenly sound. It’s a profound moment, glittering with the desire to be with someone you can no longer possess, whether that be after death or in other allegorical ways.
Lyn has a knack for taking a simple concept and expanding on it, which is brilliantly displayed in the highlight track “Tennis.” With a clear-as-crystal voice, she muses about friends who can do things like play tennis, without a care in the world. She sings about how life seems so easy for others, how they can get high without nausea, always keep in touch, study fashion in Paris, and overall juggle the good and the bad with ease. While Lyn does the same, she declares “she’s acting” through the motions instead of living through them. The irony of the subject matter is bolstered by the energetic tempo of the track, resounding like a quaint, day-in-the-life movie soundtrack.
The latter half of Lyn’s debut explores darker themes, like the notion of “Things look so pretty, when they fall down” discussed in the track “Down, down down.” With airy vocalizations, Lyn lets go and accepts reality. “Fooled By September” serves as a cautionary tale, where the artist's sincere vocals warn of a false sense of new beginnings. Over a classic yet slightly dissonant piano and with a sprinkle of vocoder effect, she sings, “This time of year’s never what I thought it would be.” Lyn offers sharp insight that new beginnings don’t always promise a brighter future, ultimately tying back to the original overarching idea of A Bowl of Unripe Fruit.
The EP ends with the appropriately titled “Dead Ends,” the most traditional pop song on the project. Over a catchy beat, Lyn sings about insecurity stopping her from wanting good things. Invoking that coming-of-age spirit that’s needed on most debut projects, the track has a driving energy perfect for dancing through the pain.
A Bowl of Unripe Fruit is an introspective project, displaying a level of vulnerability not easily conjured in your typical debut EP. With an introduction as strong as this, we look forward to seeing what’s next for this budding singer, songwriter, and producer.
Listen to A Bowl of Unripe Fruit below:
