We are living in one of the most interesting times in pop music to date. Many beloved artists are expanding their sounds from the pop tropes audiences are all too familiar with. New artists are popping up constantly, forging new paths in the genre as it evolves from year-to-year. Elizza (real name Elizabeth Wong), built up a strong portfolio of music over the past two years. Now at only 16, she has a handful of singles under her belt and a new EP, Mystery which was self-released on February 13.
Her second single ever released, “Kid I Used to Be” is a song about emotional growth and a reflection on family life. Released in 2019, the song now has almost 30,000 streams on Spotify. A remixed version on YouTube was uploaded in July 2020, and has amassed over 450,000 views, bringing scores of listeners back to her original version. The comments section of the video is full of listeners who have been struck by the lyrics, relating them to their own family issues.
On her new EP Mystery, the California native has taken her music to new levels, indulging listeners in fantastical, grand ballads without appearing overly dramatic or pretentious throughout the EP. Improving the sound of her music, Elizza enlists UK-based George Fitzgibbon to handle the project’s production.
The opening track, “Wanted”, is a strong opener with layered vocal harmonies and a slide guitar that sets the dream-pop atmosphere for the rest of the EP.
The ethereal sounds continue on the next track, “The Letter”, where she sings about the emotional trauma of having feelings for someone who doesn’t care for her. Lines such as “he is gone and now I’m the devil I’ve never known” are a haunting reflection of who she has become while she spends all this time working on a relationship to no avail. The lush synths as well as the main piano line have such power behind the soft chords and are reminiscent of Kate Bush’s early work.
The theme of love lost continues onto the delicate song, “Phantom”. This track chronicles the other person in the love story, who appears to manipulate her on lines like “your eyes sing a perfect song, but your heart won’t sing along.” Elizza seems to take refuge in the darkness, echoing the line “your cynical heart” multiple times throughout the song. The song ends eerily, fading into a record crackle sound effect and an icy synth sound.
The next song, “Forest of Secrets”, takes an indie-folk turn. While I enjoyed the change of pace musically, the meaning of the song was lost on me and I didn’t necessarily think it fit in with the rest of the project.
Things ramp up on the EP’s closer, “Misery’s Ghost”, a track about loneliness where Elizza expresses despair in lines such as “the lonely days have dawned […] the birds stop singing their songs.” While the lyrics are very appropriate during times of lockdowns and self-isolation, the music behind her takes on a heavenly quality. The piano line and gentle acoustic guitars manage to uplift the listener and through her emotive lyricism, the song gracefully closes the gates of this project.
Overall, Mystery is a must listen to project from an upcoming artist whose passion comes through vibrantly in her poetry, gorgeous soundscapes, and piano arrangements. Her brand of pop music is absolutely fascinating. I cannot wait to see where her path leads her in the future.
Elizza’s new project Mystery is available on all streaming platforms including Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music. Want more of Elizza? Be sure to connect with her on Instagram.
