Moving through with lyrical depth, contemporary Americana singer-songwriter Steve Erickson released his latest EP, Wonderland, earlier this month.
Known for his observational songwriting and stirring performances, Erickson showcases defining storytelling from both his 2024 albums, Retrospective and Crooked Road.
The start of Wonderland occurred as a song created during Crooked Road's process, which didn't fit the album's theme. As an outlier, the song wasn't included the the 2024 release, but became a foundational piece of its own right. Three additional tracks were created, and all four emerged as this EP.
The title track, "Wonderland," acts like a bridge for Erickson, both sonically and lyrically. It portrays a fleeting pleasure from the journey, which makes the journey not so wonderful at all. It reflects the somber feeling that carries the other songs and is the foundational piece of the EP.
"Fade Away" continues that mood, exploring the lens of love and relationships. Erickson frames love as a glance or a moment that could have extended, but one way or another, it didn't happen. Musically, the piano bridge was a beautiful accompaniment to the song's lyrics, allowing the mix of fulfillment with a crash of loneliness.
With a driving electric riff, "One More Day" highlights the action of moving in the wrong direction and trying to turn things around. It shines a hopeful message that change is possible, but that change requires urgency, which is something that the narrative won't allow.
"Blacker Shade of Blue" is a song that utilizes the shade of blue to convey loneliness and sadness in the wake of a loved one's loss. Lyrics like "Evening lasts so long..." further paints a state of depression as the journey continues to move forward.
As stated, the EP was created out of necessity, but flourished into a window of emotional depth in an electric space. The music direction itself is new to Erickson during this process. Throughout the project, the sound has an uncertainty factor with its placement. It acts as an amplifier for the EP's story.
Wonderland evolved into a new introspection that Erickson played with. Its lyricism sits with these feelings of isolation and loss to convey a project with no clear answer or solution. By embracing electric instrumentation and an open narrative, the EP stands as a project of reflection and renewal.
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