Bambibrains – Not Everybody’s Cup Of Tea (2020)
There are a lot of pop musicians out there and finding a refreshing approach to the genre can take time. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait much longer as Bambibrains is here to take you on a new pop journey with his debut EP Not Everybody’s Cup of Tea. Balancing vulnerability with validation, the EP digs deep into internal and external contemplations.
The new take on the genre comes from Jameson Johnson, the man behind the sound of Bambibrains. A classically trained cellist, he left university to pursue songwriting. He is using his experience and talent to create music that is colourful, heartfelt, melancholic and endearing.
The EP opens with ‘Congratulations’ which looks at fading love. There is an easy melody to the song that is engaging while tender. Johnson’s vocals are easy to listen to as he works through confusion, anger and sadness in the lyrics. As an opening track, it is perfect because it gently introduces you to what is on offer. There is so much emotion in this song and a wonderful hint of sadness.
The undulating synths notes of ‘Postcode’ grabs you and leads you through the song. This is combined with a fun beat that gets your head moving to the rhythm. There is a light feeling to the melody of the song, but the lyrics have a melancholy and wistfulness to them. You can easily relate to this song even if you have never been in the exact situation. The hints of nostalgia and endearing vocals make the song easy to listen to and one you can easily have on repeat.
The almost funky beats of ‘Everybody’s Cup of Tea’ get you into the upbeat mood of this song’s melody. There are these great synth notes that fizzle through the song while the beat keeps you moving. It is so easy to engage with this track while listening to the soothing vocals. Lyrically, this song has hope for something better or more. As with all of Johnson’s music, this song is unbelievably relatable and is almost anthemic in its subject matter.
‘Friday Night Lights’ wastes no time hitting you with the vocals. There are these amazing harmonisations at the start of the song that just flow through you. The melancholic tone of the other songs on this EP continues with this track. However, there is something hopeful in the undertone of the song. There is also this great melody that you can’t help but get drawn into. This is a really fun song that you can’t help but enjoy as there is something infectious about it.
The EP ends on a high note with ‘Vodka Soda Lies’. The undulating and wavering notes of the opening are so different to the other tracks that they captivate you. This leads to the vocals that are equally enthralling as you are taken back to the fading love of the opening track. This thematic link is wonderful, but ‘Vodka Soda Lies’ takes a very different approach to the topic. There is something expansive about the melody that insinuates itself into your brain. This is one of those songs that stays with you for a long time.
Not Everybody’s Cup of Tea by Bambibrains is an EP full of tracks that mix melancholy with hope to a soft pop vibe. Each track is distinct but there is a thread of emotion that links all of them. Listening to the EP will leave you feeling connected, engaged and validated.
Find out more about Bambibrains on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
