The XX meets London Grammar in the form of Holly Laplsey Fletcher, known as Lapsley; an incredibly talented 18 year old, originating from Liverpool. At such a tender age she has already made the longlist for the BBC’s Sound of 2015, which, although losing out to the likes of ‘Years and Years’, is no mean feat, preluding the inevitable success awaiting her. With her latest EP Understudy, Lapsley has firmly marked her position in the world of minimalist electronica, capturing an ethereal quality that makes you want to drop everything and indulge in the soothing tones and surprising warmth emanating from her sparse, almost barren, songs. The simplicity of ‘Falling Short’, with the repetition of “One month till February, keep on holding on / And I know it sure, and I know it sure”, demands to be heard: this isn’t background music, this is music to sit and contemplate life to.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pisxp5Gi3co]
The emotional maturity of ‘Browlow’ is entrancing, “I wouldn’t say that I was known for doing the right thing / I wouldn’t say that I was always comfortable in my own skin”. Moreover, the mellow beats and synths infused in ‘8896’ caress you ears in the liquid gold of Lapsley’s distinctive voice. The EP concludes with ‘Dancing’; the use of repetition is once again used with “You keep shaking me off to another on the dancefloor”, making it easy to imagine the atmospheric, haunting melodies as the soundtrack to a cult, independent film.
Big things are expected of Laspley in 2015, and, from this alluring, self-confident yet unassuming EP, there is no doubt she will continue to rocket skyward.
Words by Maddie Beadle