EP Review: Holly Humberstone - Falling Asleep at the Wheel

Holly Humberstone’s debut EP Falling Asleep at the Wheel immediately illustrates why she is one of the most exciting new artists in the UK. Having performed at the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury in 2019, Holly has gone from strength to strength since - releasing her first single in January 2020 and now her first EP, all in less than a year.

Opening track ‘Deep End’ has an other-worldly quality created by a melodic guitar melody and melancholic lyrics, which allows Holly to effortlessly tackle difficult and complex emotions, a talent that is evidently visible throughout the whole project.

It is easy to see why title track ‘Falling Asleep at the Wheel’ already has just under a million views on YouTube. It perfectly demonstrates her ethereal tones and exceptional song writing abilities, making it a particular highlight on this EP.

The following tracks ‘Overkill’ and ‘Vanilla’ both utilise more impactful percussion, giving them a slightly different feel from the rest of the project. They show how Humberstone is still finding and experimenting with her sound, as is also the case on the closer ‘Livewire’. That track has a more minimal aesthetic, allowing the piano instrumentation to guide the direction of the song. It is a fitting finale, but one that is intrinsically less interesting than the rest of the EP.

Falling Asleep At The Wheel is beautiful and perfectly demonstrates the versatility of Holly’s voice and musical ability. Her previously untapped talent is only just beginning to see the light of day and if this EP is anything to go by, then she has the potential to have a massive impact.

Words: Amelia Dinsdale