Drawing Mazes presents a reflective and atmospheric EP spanning five years of recordings, from 2020’s heartfelt “The Next Family” to this year’s serene synth-pop opener “We Will Find Our Way.” The project succeeds in blending glimmering synth textures, lush strings, hypnotic folk guitars, and intimate acoustic moments, creating a sound that’s equal parts anthemic and introspective.
Opening the EP with a lush, glimmering synth-forward immersion, “We Will Find Our Way” pairs spacey synth effervescence with a bouncy percussive pulse. “I miss the days of being young,” reminiscing vocals let out, traversing thereafter into a warming string-laden feeling as the lyricism continues to bask in the past and wonder if happiness is around the corner; a soaring title-bearing hook ensues with punchy charisma.
Alternatively, “The Next Family” achieves a twanging folk aesthetic, referencing a desire to move on from “the weight of grieving” amidst the frolicking guitars; the artist wrote this track in 2020, almost immediately after the passing of his mother, and the sincere emotion within is palpable in lines like “feel you in my stride” — referencing the never-ending impact of a loved one. The album shows well in both emotionally heavy tracks and more playful gems like “Bad Haircut,” where fuzzy pulsations and bright piano complement “need a new haircut” lyrical depictions of change.
The quality songwriting is consistent throughout. “The Snowman” infuses calming acoustics and glistening keys for an aptly wintry soundscape, sounding like it would fit at home on a snow-themed playlist, with other lush pop acts like The Radio Dept. — while “Snow Day” is a stripped-down folk stirrer that follows it up well, continuing the atmospheric pull within a more reserved soundscape.
“Resonate” — with its sludgy bass pulsation and peppy claps — stirs as well in its celebratory, climactic culmination to prancing piano and woodwind-y bursts. “Fly Low” enthralls too, achieving a thoroughly hypnotic sound in its late-night guitar strums and haunting textural complements; hazy strings complement a “fly low” vocal elongation for a particularly impactful movement. Out on November 28th, fuzzy radio is an enamoring, melodic success of an album from Drawing Mazes.
