Shane Rennison has spanned the reaches of indie-pop on Nice To Meet You, a five-track collection that serves as his debut EP.
The project was produced by Julian Giaimo, and sees Rennison at once recall the sugary pop gems of Passion Pit and the radio-readiness of Harry Styles.
Nice To Meet You begins with Cold Winter, which features the angelic twinkle of piano keys for swelling into something more triumphant.
A warm slice of shimmering electronica and pulsating beats, the EP opener rightfully forefront the New York musician’s raw vocal timbre, with ear-catching flairs like glittering glitch-like sound effects.
Bound by an absolute earworm of a hook, Cold Winter sees Rennison reminisce on old times and “cold nights” while reconnecting with a former flame.
Far from lovelorn, Rennison’s reunion with his ex is one brimming with newfound maturity and perspective, an upbeat lyrical tone that perfectly aligns with the track’s brand of synth-pop nostalgia.
Changing tacts on Ghost, Rennison opts for a groovier entry complete with sultry basslines and a slow-tempo rhythm. While the second track carves out a new sound of rubbery funk, it still fits snugly within the indie-pop sphere, with airy backing harmonies and a swathe of infectious vocal ad libs.
Later, a brief instrumental section spotlights the groove-laden guitar strums and subtle melodic piano. The track’s dance-ready feel belies its otherwise-searing lyricsism, which sees Rennison simmer with frustration as he laments a dying relationship.
That spirit of candour continues on Another Chance, which opens with the spacey atmospherics of a theremin. These ethereal sonics set the stage for the EP’s most celestial entry yet.
In between punchy percussion and undulating keyboard melodies, Rennison infuses reggaeton rhythms for a tender final plea to the one that got away.
Alongside the space-pop stylings, Another Chance also possesses a folksy flair, with a free-flowing, almost doo-wop cadence that’s altogether enrapturing.
Later, on the EP’s clearest foray into soft rock, Drunk finds Rennison at his most vulnerable, musing on feelings of insecurity atop the sonic trappings of the ‘90s. Here, Rennison sings sporadically in distorted vocals, alongside buzzing electric guitar solos and clamorous drum sections.
Rennison’s efforts culminate on EP closer Temptations, which recounts a feel-good romance built around major chords and a syncopated beat. Placing listeners squarely in a beachside retreat, Temptations features tropical sounds every bit as infectious as its title suggests.
Fittingly for a beat that seems destined to move hips, Temptations paints a portrait of a torrid infatuation with a woman who “talks so sweet” and has “the moves that’ll make me sweat right through my shirt.”
It’s a worthy closer to an EP brimming with pop energy, and thankfully it’s not the last we’ll hear from Rennison. Nice To Meet You precedes a forthcoming full-length album, likewise produced by Giaimo and set for tentative release sometime next year.
“It’s really exciting to think about what the future holds,” Rennison said in a press statement. “I feel like I’m still at the ground level of what I’m trying to do, so it’s all up from here.”
Rennison’s conviction is certainly well-placed, with his debut EP serving as a dreamy introduction to one of indie-pop’s most promising voices.
Listen to Shane Rennison’s debut EP Nice To Meet You below.
