Evy Jane is the moody electronica/R&B project of Vancouver’s Evelyn Mason and Jeremiah Klein, who have been writing and producing music for years in various capacities. While their immaculately produced self-titled 12-inch contains only two originals along with remixes for each, Evy Jane certainly nail the aesthetic and mood they’re going for, mining a late night vibe similar to The Weeknd and Clams Casino.
The EP opens with the simple pop of ‘Sayso’, combining creamy synths, heavy bass and a slow, stumbling drum track with Evelyn Mason’s lonely, ice-cool vocals that remind me of both Beth Gibbons’ and Roisin Murphy’s deliveries. This is slick and fashionable music for sure, but its certainly more you can just a joint you can vibe’ to – Mason provides a great, hazy vocal performance that is unassuming in its technique but darkly hypnotic and affecting in its intimacy.
Although made up of similar ingredients, the 12-inch moves into slightly harsher territory with ‘Ohso’; and it’s this original coupled back-to-back with the Max Ulis remix that provides the real highlight. Combining for a great 10 minutes, the remix brings the track into proper dance territory, splicing up Mason’s vocal track and adding a stuttering Garage beat that is a real joy to listen to.
Although the Taal Mala version of ‘Sayso’ does seem a little tacked-on when compared with the previously mentioned remix, it’s still a welcome addition considering the strong source material being used. At any rate, this is a great, confident and assured debut release from a duo that has clearly got some experience under their belts. I can’t wait to hear where they go from here – mesmerising stuff.
Wyatt Lawton-Masi
