On March 29th, the British band ear candy released their debut EP SONGS BUT NOT FORGOTTEN – letting us have a taste of their current sound.
A few weeks before the announcement, the band introduced the fans to their final members, consisting of Jamie (lead singer), Jacob (keys), Paul (drummer) and Aidan (bass), in preparation for the upcoming excitement surrounding the EP release.
In a recent tweet, singer Jamie lets the audience know that he would love the fans or, as he prefers to call them, the “Candy Fam”, to listen to the EP in the original track order to have the best experience.
Starting off with a beautiful ‘intro’ track, the band pulls you into a world of storytelling songs and lets the audience soak up the beautiful, movie soundtrack like beginning before morphing into the first song ‘jaded’.
‘jaded’ is a very upbeat song that immediately catches your attention with its bouncy melody and striking guitar parts. Talking about how Jamie (who writes the band’s songs) is pretty much over a person he was having a relationship with and that the person “should get a first degree at humble university“ It’s the perfect anthem for anyone who is starting to get over someone.
Following this storyline – the next track ‘got it’ (which was also the lead single of the EP) explains how Jamie won’t let the person get to him anymore. Singing lines like “I’m no longer gonna be your alibi” and that the person got it on their own if they want something, he is setting up a boundary for himself to not let the person come close again. If you wanna see a more in depth review about the song you should definitely check out the review that’s already been posted here!
The third song called ‘vitamin’ switches up the bubbly tone of the EP. It’s a slow piano-based track with beautiful vocals. In the song Jamie talks about needing a person close by in order to feel less lonely. Saying he needs someone with him because he “is no good” on his own and that his “mind is a prison cell” are pretty relatable lyrics for a lot of people, and musicians writing about such topics is a very important thing to do, to make loneliness less of a taboo subject in our society.
The lyrics “so hold me close, when I’m in your arms I feel safe” are so raw and honest and summarise the meaning behind the song in a perfect way.
‘killin’’ being the fourth track – gets us back to the upbeat and fun ear candy signature sound. Here the singer asks the person why they aren’t reciprocating his feelings and why they are both so “scared of being vulnerable” instead of just talking their feelings out. He tells the other person that they overthink too much and that he doesn’t want to wait any longer for them to tell him their feelings so he wants to get the other person “out of his brain.”
The last track on the EP is called ‘over again’ and it is the perfect ending for the little story ear candy is telling their audience with this record. It feels as if the song is the answer to the questions asked in ‘killin’’ and the start of their relationship.
Singing “like a rollercoaster in our own haunted house, hard to see a way out” puts into perspective how it still seems to be hard for them to actually be together but Jamie follows with the line “but you gave me the key to find a way to your mind and now we’re coming back around”, which leaves us to believe that they will find a way to be closer. The lyric “you say you want to start it over again and I feel like I’m falling in love my friend” confirms that they are trying to make it work between them, and that the other person does feel the same for Jamie.
To summarise it all: ear candy have done it again. They’ve taken us on a little journey and let us experience parts of their lives through their music. If you have a couple minutes today I would recommend checking out the EP (and the rest of their music too) because this record is truly their best work yet and from now on the only way is up while they become more popular!
Written by: Lara Thissen
Edited by: Molly Day
