Why is it that we can’t always say how we feel? It should be easy to find the words to express ourselves, but sometimes when the words are right there, they don’t come out. Other times, it can be very natural to say what’s on your mind, especially when you pair what is being said with music. For rising British soul and jazz singer Lois Levin, all is revealed in her songs. She is someone who embraces her emotions and uses honest lyrics to get her feelings out there, which we hear in her new EP, Motions.
There are five tracks that make up Motions, and four of them have already been released as singles. The first track is “Call Me Names,” a semi-sweet offering that flaunts Lois’s soulful vocals. There is a coolness to it from the snapping and light percussion, but there’s also a bit of an attitude in it as expressed in lines like, “I don’t like the way you behave” and “When I put me first, you start to call me names.” Lois’s feelings change, however, on “Sugar.” Here, she exposes the thrill of desire. It’s not the most obvious type of love song, but lyrics like, “Forget what you want / Just let it happen / Your love or mine / So unreal / Take you back to the hotel / Sugar, darling / Honey, I’m free,” have romantic, even lustful, undertones. The vibes change again, however, on “Excuse.” Lois touches on heartbreak as she sings, “It doesn’t surprise me / The timing of the little things you say / Or what you insinuate.” Still, she doesn’t come across as angry or wrathful. If anything, she seems mostly disappointed. She continues to look for connection on “Felt,” leaning into her vulnerabilities. Throughout, she keeps things straightforward, from the direct lyrics to the simple melodies.
The last track on Motions is “Pass You By,” which is new to fans. This is one of the more tender tracks on the EP, with Lois describing how her mom’s passing has affected her. There’s almost a dreaminess to the song, as if the light instrumentals are keeping Lois afloat. Her vocals are smooth as she sings, “I’m in a room of one’s own / Hoping that you know I miss you so / Want you here so bad / Miss the moments we never had / So don’t let my love pass you by / These years have flown by.” If anything, she wants listeners to appreciate those they love and never take them for granted.
About Motions, Lois explains,
“I feel the EP’s quite direct. I’m not that good at hiding how I feel, which is why a lot of my songs are quite literal. There’s sarcastic lyricism, vulnerability, frankness, and romance all across this EP. It’s not so much different from my previous music, more of a personal insight to who I am.”
You can listen to Motions here.
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