REVIEW: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Siena Fantini’s New EP ‘Laundry List’
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY KATIE SLATER ☆
AT JUST SIXTEEN YEARS OLD, FANTINI USES A SELF-CONFESSIONAL STYLE OF WRITING WHICH LEANS INTO HER YOUTHFUL PERSPECTIVE RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO OBSCURE IT. Laundry list is the second ep from los angeles highflyer siena fantini. Engrossed in the musical theatre scene, her music forms an interesting marriage between pop stardom and Broadway.
Without a doubt one of the most emotionally tumultuous periods of many people’s lives, the ups and downs of the teenage years are no joke. An EP which snapshots many of the shared experiences of youthhood, it tackles themes from toxic friendships to early heartbreak.
Opening with lead single “Casual Kisser,” the infectious chorus has a deliciously catchy hook. Putting an upbeat spin on a song that shames the players of the world, Fantini sings with playful scorn. Delivered with an effortless tone, no doubt a product of her theater training, she breezes through the fragmented melodies of the verses and the sustained chorus notes with equal ease. The pointed title lyrics, “a casual kisser, you won’t even miss her” have a satisfying way of rolling off the tongue, aided by its simple, satisfying rhyme.
Following track “claustrophobia” is an instantly sobering change of pace, stripping back the indie guitar energy to a single acoustic sound. Much less clear-cut morally, Fantini explores the suffocating feeling of experiencing co-dependency for the first time. Unsure whether she is running from her lover or her own fear, the singer-songwriter battles the urge to run away over a quietly expanding bed of sound.
Delving back into the bouncing full band-sound, “25” is a scathing track about friendships that hold you back. Really pouring her resentment into the vocal performance, the melody has an improvised quality thanks to its frequent adlibs. Bursting into an energetic chorus infused with dreamy harmonies and a funky guitar riff, the genre fusion feels like something pulled directly from a pit band arrangement. Her musical theater background shines through here. Treating songwriting as storytelling, she uses her stage training for maximum emotional impact.
Final track “a little less evil” opens as a piano ballad reminiscent of Olivia Rodrigo’s early style. Sustained chords create a blanket for Fantini’s fluid phrasing, as she attempts to come to terms with falling out of love. As her emotions build, however, the restraint shatters. A sudden shift in tempo drives the song into a rhythmically tight section, where she belts lyrics heavy with uncertainty. The perfect ending to an emotionally turbulent EP, Fantini shows her flare for storytelling through both gentle restraint and explosive highs.
