More about: my life as a moth

Loads of people will claim they’re Kate Bush-inspired, throwing the comment out and applying phrases like ‘avant-garde’ to anything they’re slightly unsure on or confused about. Using Kate’s name is not something we take lightly, but My Life As A Moth deserves the accolade. Releasing her debut EP Chest Of Dress Up, My Life As A Moth has all the vision, the aesthetics and the bravery that would make Kate proud.

Wrapped up in mystery, there’s really no info on the artist beyond her music. Demanding that your attention go solely to her work, Chest Of Dress Up is the result of that singular focus. In just three tracks, the release shows the breadth and depth of her promise, moving between big electro-indie banger ‘Electro Junction’ into the dark and sparse ‘Sing King’ and finishing up with the oddly intriguing title track, it’s a short but exciting journey.

The title track is undoubtedly the heart of the EP. As a song, ‘Chest Of Dress Up’ seems to boil all her influences down into one big melting pot. With Fiona Apple-esque phrasings and Kate Bush style vocal acrobatics, the strangeness is underpinned by a heavier, punk influence in the instrumental. It’s both theatrical while remaining super real and authentic, made with real instruments and the work of true musicians. You can hear exactly how fun it must have been to make as the playfulness comes through like an infectious smile with the twinkling guitar riffs. Sounding out its title, the whole EP—but especially this song—sounds like the nostalgic desire to put on a costume and be someone else for a while. Clowns, princesses, villains and animals, My Life As A Moth becomes anything and everything here.

Masterfully made, the debut EP was crafted by expert hands. Produced by Rob Ellis, Adrian Utley and Ben Christophers, the trio have worked with massive names like Anna Calvi, PJ Harvey, Portishead, Bat For Lashes and more. Grounded in the very best of avant-indie, you can hear the wisdom pulled from each of them. 'Electro Junction' in particular walks a delicate balance between the darkness of old-school shoegaze and the big heights of Anna Calvi’s best bits. From start to finish, the three tracks keep you on your toes in the best way, never jarring or too intense, but always exciting.

Tied together with beautiful visuals, it’s nice to see a new artist making proper use of music videos. In the same way that Kate Bush’s videos unravel like short films or big hypnotic dance sequences, the video for ‘Chest Of Dress Up’ is so reminiscent of ‘Hammer Horror’ or ‘Them Heavy People’. Full of mime-like movements and top hats, you’ll want to join this dress-up party as she dances around like Alice as she fully embraced the Mad Hatter.

A short taste of what’s to come, My Life As A Moth is one to keep an eye on. Providing a sketch of all her skills, laying her range out like a showreel, she’s sure to only get bigger and bolder.

Chest Of Dress Up EP is out now

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More about: my life as a moth