Emma Ragen – Beautiful Days (2022)
Described as powerful and motivated by Rising Artists Blog (I paraphrase, of course), US-based Emma Ragen has a sound that far surpasses her young years. At only 17 years of age, she retains a sense of youthful innocence; however, the sophisticated and mature musicality really does, well, surpass her years. Featured on Rising Artists Blog, Saiid Zeidan and various playlists, Ragen is reaching audiences on an international scale. The latest addition to her discography is her EP Beautiful Days.
Hot on the heels of her powerful ballad ‘I Knew It Was Time’, the five-track EP takes listeners on a sonic journey navigated by Ragen herself. Ragen explains that Beautiful Days “is a collection of songs that are all close to my heart” – which is evident in the intimate and personal narrative of the tracks. From the title track’s exposition of “beautiful days with a beautiful girl” to the acceptance of a break-up in the closing ‘I Knew It Was True’, Beautiful Days really captures the core of a teenage heart. No, it is not only a teenage heart but the essence of human fragility regardless of age.
Inspired by Phoebe Bridgers, Beautiful Days is tinged with an indie-folk sound atop the pop-inspired style. The thing is, while there is a reminiscence to more established pop and indie artists, Emma Ragen brings a sound that is distinctly Emma. In a collection of ballads, you hear a range of emotions oozing from her rich vocals. From the melancholic ‘Away From Here’ to the insightful acceptance in ‘I Knew It Was True’, Ragen keeps you in the palm of her hand.
Filled with intense intimacy and tender sentimentality, Beautiful Days slithers into your brain, slips down your spine and leaves you gasping for breath at the end. My favourite track has to be ‘Away From Here’ and I’m not ashamed to say it really touched my heart…metaphorically, of course.
For more from Emma Ragen check out her Instagram and Spotify.
