Sad spring songs or fun summer music? Elle Coves provides a mix of both with her debut EP Selfishly Inclined, which came out on the 13th of March. With it, the 19-year-old artist delivered not only the perfect introduction to what will undoubtedly become a stellar career but also a deeply personal collection of songs that resonate with everyone who has ever experienced tumultuous relationships, self-doubts and inner chaos.
Elle Coves, who was born in Germany to Spanish parents and moved to Ireland in her teens, has already gained a great amount of popularity in the past year, particularly on TikTok where she has garnered more than a million likes. She often names artists like Kasey Musgraves, HAIM and Taylor Swift as her inspiration, and while that influence is noticeable, Elle has managed to create her own distinctive style. She describes her music as “sad yeehaw pop” which is one way to put it – a more accurate description for this EP would be “dreamy pop perfection.”
Selfishly Inclined is off to a strong start with the catchy song ‘Born To Lose’. The track perfectly balances sad lyrics with an upbeat tune and sets the mood for the EP. Like most of the following songs, it immediately triggers the urge to roll down the windows and turn up the volume in the car.
The second song, called ‘Headcase’, naturally sparks high expectations, and luckily, it doesn’t disappoint. It describes what many, including Elle herself, would call a situationship. Amongst its lyrics are the lines “If we never kissed, does it even count? I still can’t get you out of my mouth,” which, as you will know if you have ever been in such a situation(ship), hits the nail on the head.
‘Don’t’, the third track, starts with a beautiful guitar melody and quickly turns into the tearjerker of the EP. The sensation of not being able to communicate your true feelings in fear of breaking down is one that almost everyone is familiar with, and ‘Don’t’ sums it up perfectly.
The title track ‘Selfishly Inclined’ might as well be on the soundtrack of a coming-of-age film. It not only captures the energy and overall vibe of the EP, but also the emotional struggle you go through when you realise you have been self-sabotaging. ‘Outrun This Feeling’ is the closing track of the EP. It starts softly, eases into a catchy beat and lets Elle’s beautiful vocals shine.
According to Elle, the EP took a year to create and she makes it very clear just how dear to her heart it is – understandably so. Apart from the music, the strong visuals which go along with it (think cowboy boots, vintage clothes and cornfields drenched in golden light) show how much thought and love went into the project. Selfishly Inclined is a tender debut that promises great things to come for the young artist. Its strength lies in its cohesiveness – the tracks seamlessly blend into one another but still stand on their own. What makes the EP so special is Elle’s ability to merge light-hearted tunes with meaningful, yet straightforward lyrics. It may not be the soundtrack of a coming-of-age film yet, but it definitely has the potential to become the soundtrack of spring and summer.
Written by: Melanie Falkensteiner
Edited by: Shanna Henselmans
