EP Review: "After EP 2" - After

Ashley Adams
2 days ago
4 min read

After EP 2 is the second electronic/alternative pop EP from the band After, consisting of Justine Dorsey and Graham Epstein and is known for their encapsulating Y2K aesthetic.

Deep Diving
The Field
Where we are now
Baroque
Outbound
Close your eyes

As the iconic late 90's/early 2000's aesthetic has made waves into recent media again, only a handful of people have managed to accurately replicate it and its nostalgia. If you want that in the form of music, look no further than for the band After. Formed in 2023 with the release of their debut single "Something Special", Dorsey and Epstein come together to create magnificent music that makes you feel like you're flying and dreaming at the same time. They have released several singles over the past two years before releasing their debut EP After EP in April 2025. A few months later, they released their second EP After EP 2 in October.

Deep Diving
The popular leading single of the EP, “Deep Diving” explores the many different aspects of nature. As you listen to the song, you travel from the beach, to the sky, to the mountains, and everything in between. You’re made to feel like you’re traveling through thin air and witnessing all the spectacles of life. You can see every landscape and the curvature of the planet. You transport through the clouds like you’re a plane, and swim through the sea like you’re a fish. The production supplements this, with its sci-fi-esque synths and sound effects and reverberated guitar chords, as well as the drums fills that bring you back down to Earth.
The Field
The second track is about trying to forget a former partner, but everything reminds you of them. As much as you try to move on, your brain always goes back to the times you spent together. The line “You’re every face and you’re every sound” perfectly defines this feeling, as its inescapable. “The Field” is a combination of futuristic synths, distinct sound and vocal effects, and 2000's indie-rock instrumentation - After’s signature sound - and this song is a great example of it. The lyrics also use more personification of nature to describe feelings and emotions surrounding love and loss brought upon by past or current relationships.
Where we are now
The production for “Where we are now” takes a more acoustic approach compared to the two previous tracks, although it still features pop elements. Dorsey sings about how she feels about the relationship she is in. She loves her significant other and wants to spend more time with them. She deeply appreciates the moments they have together and never wants them to end, as she enjoys their company. Some lines may imply there might be some difficulties in the relationship due to the distance between them, but there’s not enough to take away the love Dorsey and her partner have for each other.
Baroque
After EP 2 does a complete 180 with its fourth track containing hard rock elements with metal-esque singing. The song starts out as dark pop and the relationship presented in the previous track appears to take a turn for the worst as Dorsey and her significant other break up. Her ex has problems regarding the kind of the person they are, as she sings “When you realize you’re selfish? / I know you can’t help this”. She realizes the person she was with isn't what she made them out to be. The breakup was caused by this and the rockiness of the relationship. The emotional aspects of the lyrics are a great pair with the powerful and showstopping production of “Baroque”.
Outbound
“Outbound” seems to be Dorsey trying to just to be friends with ex, but they also could be trying to see if they could get back together again, depending on if there are still romantic feelings present. While there’s still tension, the love they had for each when they were together is still there - they are just trying to convert it into platonic love for now. The production sounds like a combination of the first three tracks, showing how talented Epstein is with his production skills and overall musicianship. Dorsey sings in a cadence that is new to the EP, which shows how talented she is with her singing abilities.
Close your eyes
More references to sleeping and dreaming can be found in the final track of this EP, “Close your eyes”. This song also is about the complications that can come with a rocky relationship, with the lyrics specifying in longing and jealousy. Dorsey believes her partner thinks about someone else while they are together, and she wishes this wasn’t the case and wonders why this is happening. She tries to confront her partner about this, but then changes her mind right before she’s about to, because she doesn’t want her suspicions to be confirmed. In the background of “Close your eyes”, there are piano notes that create a unique atmosphere for the production.

From the first to last track, After EP 2 is nothing other than a beautiful work of art. Everything about it is flawless, from the production, to the vocals, to the visuals - it is pure perfection. Justine Dorsey and Graham Epstein are both incredibly talented and its always amazing when two people who have outstanding musical chemistry come together to create together. Its obvious they both had intricate visions for their music and they always execute them fantastically, including with their newest EP. I can't wait to keep listening to their music and see what's in the store for them.

Written By Ashley Adams

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