2024 has undoubtedly been a year for pop artists. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has dominated the news while ‘Espresso’ by Sabrina Carpenter was arguably the song of the summer. But indie artist Nieve Ella is bringing back grungy greatness with her latest release Watch It Ache and Bleed. Ella is riding off her rising popularity from supporting both Irish band Inhaler and indie pop favourite girl in red on their respective tours and this EP acts as an ideal introduction to the artist.
The EP starts with the track ‘Anything’. The instrumentals that support Ella’s light and airy vocals come in one by one with just the bass drum and simple guitar riff opening. This teasing of the backing track doesn’t throw the listener into the new EP but slowly draws them in, creating curiosity. While this is not exactly attention-grabbing, it is refreshing to have an artist not give everything away within the first track but it is just enough to want to keep listening.
Fans have already been able to get to grips with the next two tracks, ‘Sugarcoated’ and ‘The Things We Say’, as they were released as the first taste of Watch It Ache and Bleed. The anthemic ‘Sugarcoated’ is the perfect scream in the car song. The heavy and layered guitar riffs and bass line give listeners little room to breathe. The lyrics explore Ella’s struggles with imposter syndrome, a feeling many of her young fans will most likely be able to relate to owing to the difficulties experienced during the transition from being a teenager to joining the adult world: “I wish I could go back to when I hid under the table / Misunderstood, feeling so lost in a world full of people / I’m sugarcoated / I sugarcoat it.” These candid lyrics, alongside the overwhelming instrumentals, make the track cathartic to listen to.
Ella gets honest again in ‘The Things We Say’, a song she wrote after having an argument with a friend. The emotion oozes out, as Ella sings the heartbreaking yet universal lyrics with such desperation: “Now I can’t take it back / I keep praying / Jesus Christ, what a mess we keep making / But I can’t see the scratch / Threw my suitcase in the back / Jesus Christ, the things we say / I would never hurt a friend that way.” ‘The Things We Say’ encompasses what it is like to be a messy young adult and will act as a comfort to many who feel like they are stumbling through life.
‘The Reason’ gives listeners a break from the clanging instrumentals of the first three tracks. The stripped-back piano backing track allows Ella’s vocals to shine, which blend well with the harmonies provided by her bandmate. Despite being such a soft track, ‘The Reason’ cuts like a knife owing to its raw lyrics: “I’m trying to plead you / I get down on my knees / Your foot’s in the doorway when I’m begging to leave.” By the end, the roles are reversed and Ella seems to be the one causing harm to this relationship. It’s a welcomed change to see artists acknowledging how relationships are two-way streets, with both parties capable of blame.
Listeners are quickly dragged from this short respite, as Ella really lets loose on ‘Ganni Top (She Gets What She Needs)’ giving the EP a boost at its halfway mark. After teasing the track on social media, fans were excited for the song to be released on streaming platforms. The incessant guitar riff immediately draws the listener in as Ella’s rich vocals drive the song forward. The track’s suggestive lyrics work well with the confidence that oozes out of Ella: “You can fill me in the back of your limousine / And then you’ll know why they call me G.O.A.T / I can spell it out for you if you know what I mean / What I mean.” The tongue-in-cheek lyrics verge on empowering, which is only further emphasised by the force of the relentless instrumentals.
‘Stop Me!’ wouldn’t sound out of place on a Sam Fender album thanks to its production. The rolling drum beats and heavy guitar riffs that can be heard throughout the record seem to take inspiration from Fender’s work on Seventeen Going Under. Of course, Ella’s raspy vocals give the song its own twist. The track’s chorus is overwhelming as all of the instruments come together as one pulsating beat. One thing about Nieve Ella is that she is unafraid of being noisy and taking up space.
Ella uses ‘Meet You In The Middle’ to lead out her EP. The song starts off calm and unassuming. The twangy guitar and intermittent drum beats allow Ella’s vocals to take centre stage again. Throughout the second chorus, the backing track slowly builds up to an epic climax before letting loose for a chaotic instrumental section. The outro is almost ethereal as Ella belts the lyrics with full force making the song feel almost like the end of a movie soundtrack. Ella makes sure to leave a mark on her listeners, as they are engulfed in the music.
Nieve Ella explores a range of mature emotions throughout Watch It Ache and Bleed while reminding young listeners that it’s normal to be a bit messy at their age. Ella’s lyricism stands out on this EP, given the number of personal experiences the artist is willing to share with fans. This honesty allows listeners to connect to Ella and is sure to help her fanbase grow even stronger than it already is.
Words by Amy Britton
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