Tiny Catastrophes: Follow The Robin’s Debut EP
TW for discussion of violence against women.
Tiny Catastrophes’ Ep Cover Art, Image taken by Jasper A Muir
Tiny Catastrophes is Follow The Robin’s debut haunting folk EP that explores “belonging, longing and the bittersweet transitions of life” according to Steph, the solo singer-songwriter behind Follow The Robin. The mix of poetic heartfelt lyrics with complementary instrumental compositions encapsulates folk music’s ability for artists to create and share stories at such a depth, creating a really beautiful and bittersweet emotional journey for listeners. My journey and interpretations of the EP will no doubt be different from others, but the core themes of belonging and longing are nonetheless clear for everyone.
Straight away delving into these ideas, the EP begins with LEXI, a relaxed yet upbeat song that follows a personal yet relatable story about being at war within yourself and appearance. Cold Bones follows this, shifting to a more gentle and vulnerable instrumental playing style to encourage feelings of bittersweetness and melancholy in listeners while Steph sings about the broken trust and love as a result of someone choosing to hurt you and play with your emotions. The gentle plucking of guitar and soft airy vocals help emphasise the raw vulnerable emotions of the lyrics. The bridge made up of vocal harmonies further exemplifies this through the hope and pain that can be heard within Steph’s voice.
Tiny Catastrophes is the next track that follows, exploring the fragility of being and the courage it takes to be yourself within its poetic lyrics and flowy yet punchy composition. The mix of the haunting harmonies and rolling melody sways with the dancing piano, highlighting that fragility of understanding and accepting oneself. From its delicate start, Tiny Catastrophes’ dynamics grow stronger and louder throughout. Using a fusion of folk and indie-rock inspired drums and soft electric guitar adlibs to represent the overwhelming longing and struggle to understand yourself and when that happens, the courage it takes to be your truest self.
Rusted Soul continues the core themes of the EP through the composition and lyrical matter of the track. Delving into figuring out oneself and coming to terms with changing and having changed after having been hurt. Longing to be innocent and blissfully unaware like you once were before the hurt that was to come. The EP ends on quite a different but powerful note. Looking at belonging and longing through the lens of sexism, mistreatment and violence against women and how this affects their outlook on who they are and where they belong. Similar to Tiny Catastrophes, MOVEMENT begins quieter, with a reserved anger in the vocals and piano that grows and builds. Once again, another beautifully raw and emotional storytelling from Follow The Robin that strikes listeners in their core, asking them to consider their own experiences, the feelings of not belonging and the anger in knowing how common this is. Emphasising this in the outro in which Steph sings in a continuous, almost chant-like manner “Am I next in line? Are you next in line? Who is next in line? Will we cut the line?”. For me, this chant, and song, really spoke to the horrific high rate of violence against women in Australia, the lack of prevention measures, inaction from men and ultimately, how women continue to have this constant feeling of unease and inability to let go and feel free as a result.
Press Photo for Follow The Robin, Image taken by Jasper A Muir
Steph from Follow The Robin, Image taken by Jasper A Muir
There is no doubt that you should give Tiny Catastrophes a listen to go through an emotionally vulnerable journey with Follow The Robin. Both the music and lyrics have such raw feeling that when combined evoke a world of emotions in listeners. A link to Steph’s project, Follow The Robin, and her EP will be linked below so be sure to give it a listen and continue to follow along with her journey.
@followtherobinmusic - Spotify - Bandcamp - Triple J Unearthed
ALL IMAGES TAKEN BY @jasper.a.muir
