East Exchange: torn between ties.
Liverpool-born alternative rock band East Exchange will release their debut EP, torn between ties., on 4 September via AWAL. Packed with strong drum beats and emotional lyrics, the band display their signature sound that blends alternative rock and grunge, as well as their musical development. And this release is one to pay attention to, as East Exchange have a rapidly increasing fan base after playing at many live events, including 2000trees festival and supporting Enter Shikari earlier this year.
The opener, ‘unspoken.’, explores the emotional weight of the need of bonding and the fractures that it may cause to the identity of those involved: “Alone and lost again/Fractured emotion/Alone you’ve lost a friend/Feels like I’m choking”. Through this, lead vocalist Sonny K validates the feeling of emptiness following the end of a relationship, which will probably cause fans to come together at live performances of this song due to their shared experience.
‘fall.’, with its strong drum intro and loud choruses, looks at the emotional impact of a deteriorating relationship and how people try to do everything in their power to fight for it to continue: “But I have tried, and tried, and tried”. This allows us to realise that if we feel that a relationship is coming to an end, we can fight to keep it going, but we must also understand the emotional consequences of doing so.
‘lily.’ describes a mysterious figure in the crowd that gives the protagonist hope through tough times: “And Lily’s all I think of/My fire in the winter”. Through this, Sonny K inspires us to look for our Lily so that we can overcome our challenges but it also helps us to chase our dreams. A strong focus in the track is placed on doing whatever it takes to find Lily, even if the journey is difficult: “I’ll crawl up mountains/Bleeding/To chase this nova wherever it leads me”, further encouraging us to find that one person that helps us get through tough times, just like Lily does for the protagonist.
‘bleed.’, which features a powerful drum intro, discusses feelings of hopelessness and trying to find reasons to keep going even when life seems hard: “Trying to find a reason/Hold onto pictures of the past”. This brings a feeling of realisation that even if you feel like life is going badly, there are many reasons to keep battling our inner demons, no matter how tough it gets.
The EP closes with ‘ghost.’ which explores the emotional effect of feeling like a ghost when in a relationship and how you question everything about the other person when you’re in that position: “Do you know my name? Did you hear me call?”. Undoubtedly, many of us have lived through such experiences and this will surely strike a chord with fans, especially at live gigs.
Overall, ‘torn between ties.’ demonstrates East Exchange’s musical development and proves they are a band to watch in the future. Throughout the entire EP, they have displayed their signature sound and deeply emotional lyrics – and I am looking forward to what’s next for this group of rising stars.