St. South dispels sorrow with the entrancing EP "BIG SADS."

Grief can be a destructive force that can trap most into suffering endless pangs of emptiness--- yet the indie artist St. South used it to fuel her motivation in finishing the "BIG SADS" EP. It's a journey encapsulating break-ups, loss, and despair, expressed through a soothing set of five tracks that distinctly stand out with the vocals and productions; almost like the light at the end of a long tunnel. Clearly an intimate and personal endeavor that doesn't restrain in letting out innate sentiments, this captured our attention and got us writing more about the eminent artist and her music.

St. South's origins can be traced to a decade back when they released the debut single "Slacks": the slow, jazzy, and lo-fi sounds form a cozy tune, as the sweet dose of vocals serenade about a heartbreak. This sonic blueprint turned into a recurring signature for the moniker hailing from Sydney (which they described as "heartbreak indie-pop that you can feel and heal to"), and has drawn millions of listeners to her discography. Down the road, they gained more momentum from significant TV placements in shows like ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and ‘The Fosters.’ 

As an accomplished musician, she is well-versed not only as a singer-songwriter but also as an instrumentalist and producer. From various remarkable singles such as "Nobody Hurts Me Like You" (a dusty and nostalgic lo-fi beat with ear-candy hooks) or "Golden" (a folksy, ethereal ballad with Mt. Wolf) to riveting remixes for "Lovers In A Dangerous Time" by T. Thomason (a dreamy electronica breakbeat style tune), the range and depth present in St. South's discography is teeming with works that push creative thresholds, wholly atmospherical nevertheless and meant to be remedial for those anguished by broken hearts.

Here's what we thought about the songs constituting the EP:

1. Big Sads

Commencing on tender piano chords and reversed samples, a gentle and muted chill-hop style groove carries the dulcet performance from St. South. It's all about the unending anxiety, as the vocals are like a balm with consoling words and sweet timbre.

2. A Good Year

Mournful and lost, "A Good Year" has a heart-rending despondency (as projected in the chorus with "I just want a good year//Something to believe in). Accompanying the serene rendition is a velvety and melodic beat, acting as a warm and cushy blanket.

3. So Many Places 

"So Many Places" is a tune where the singer laments about past relationships and other tragic parts of her life, containing more pronounced features in its instrumental: stomping trap drums made complete with metrical hats, as washed-out synths and guitars offer sublime and fuzzy harmonies.

4. Better Days

Taking more of an upbeat turn emotionally, "Better Days" is dedicated to a lover who has fulfilled the emptiness felt by the songstress earlier. It's filled with a positive and charming quality in the reverb-soaked piano playing high notes and lush pads over a relaxed beat.

5. Didn't Need You

The finale track ends the EP on a sad note, as "Didn't Need You" features layered vocals amplifying the main chorus— keeping a feathery and melancholic timbre— and devoted to "moving on" after the end of a tumultuous relationship, and the struggles one faces after constantly to relapse into depressive states. The production has several melodic elements subtly placed, remaining as a steady companion with its mild backbeat.

Listen to “BIG SADS” on Spotify and stay tuned to St. South and her music on Instagram.