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Music

Encompassing a mixture of struggle, regret, uncertainty, and desire, Oh Pep! tick all the boxes on Stadium Cake

Melbourne based folk-pop band, Oh Pep! embark on a journey of discovery with their debut LP, Stadium Cake.

Oh Pep

Oh Pep! are bringing more than just plain ol’ Folk Pop to the table, they’re serving up a platter of emotions with their debut record, Stadium Cake.

Whilst their sound is known to be predominantly folk orientated, the duo have tried to explore other musical avenues and sounds which is reflected in this collection of tracks.

Olivia Hally (vocals, guitar) and Pepita Emmerichs (violin, mandolin) take us through a spiral of emotions, which are influenced by an array of tales with the notion that they want us to experience similar thoughts, and feels as the album progresses.

Stadium Cake encompasses a mixture of emotions from struggle, regret, guilt, uncertainty, and desire. In a couple of the tracks, the strong upbeat tempo almost deceives the listener into believing this LP foreshadows happiness, cheerfulness, and pleasure.

A closer listen to the lyrics and alas, the realisation of a much deeper, sadder story unfolds. This is demonstrated from the opening track with the almost off key tones of Pepita’s mandolin combined with its fast paced rhythm which initially provides us with a hopeful, and optimistic scope to the rest of the story.

However, upon listening to tracks such as Doctor Doctor with the chilling lyrics ‘I know what I want, but it’s not what I need’ , it is as though we are listening to the singer’s conscience and we feel the struggle, and fight between between what they want but cannot have.

The final track on the album, Afterwards, conveys a story of ex lovers who meet for coffee but are avoiding the topic of their current romantic ventures conveyed by the lyrics ‘We keep the topic set on others…Until I ask about your new fling’. This track in particular is one that a lot of us can probably identify with, and the curiosity that lies behind present and future relationships from individuals that we were once close to.

The chilling vocals showcased in Trouble Now conveys a sense of bitterness ,and resentment towards helping the person who has got themselves into a spot of trouble.

We are undoubtedly experiencing one hell of an emotional roller-coaster defined with lyrics such as ‘Put that thing down, don’t you fire a shot, let’s make that clear’. The forceful plucking strokes of the mandolin really add a sense of hesitation, and uncertainty to the track.

Overall, this LP demonstrates a strong sense of emotional vulnerability, and will almost certainly leave melancholy vibes with the listener.

While we as listeners really experience this journey with a heavy heart, we are left wondering how we even got to that stage.

The album is captured in a variety of artistic and creative forms, but some words of advice – listen to this after a good night out whilst winding down, as opposed to a soundtrack to your fragile hearted, post break-up blues. You have been warned.