EP Review: "I feel it too" - Yema

Canadian indie singer/songwriter, Yema has dropped her debut EP, "I feel it too", which has been in the works for over the past 5 years.

TRACKLIST

Treading

Synchronicity

4 Hearts

Sheets

You are an Angel

Katrina Sosa, going under the artistic moniker Yema, is a multi-talented musician, singer, songwriter, producer and music educator from Edmonton, Alberta. With a background in classical and jazz music, as well as a deep love and passion for indie artists, Katrina uses her roots to create a unique blend of modern indie and alternative soundscapes that can only be called her own. Katrina created her artist project Yema and began writing and recording her debut EP back in 2020, using it as a outlet for her own personal experiences. "I feel it too" reflects on themes and emotions of heartbreak and helplessness within toxic relationships, but also has some fun surprises in the middle. The artwork for the EP is also originally created by Katrina, with all songs being written solely by her with production help from Patrick Froese. Let's dive into these tracks!

Treading

We kick off the EP with Yema's debut single, "Treading", which is inspired by artists like Toro Y Moi, Tennis and New Order. This song is about staying in a relationship that you know isn't good for you, but you just can't get yourself to leave. You wake up everyday hoping somehow it'll just magically get better and things will feel the way they used to, but they never do. Everything just keeps going in circles, and you're stuck in the same lonely, dreadful feeling without any relief. Despite the melancholy lyrics, the soundscape of this song is super groovy and dreamy. The funky bassline will undeniably get you moving, and paired with the ethereal synths as well as Yuma's sweet-toned vocals, this song is actual indie-pop perfection.

Synchronicity

Just in case you don't know, "Synchronicity" is a psychiatric phenomenon introduced by Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, basically defining as a "meaningful coincidence". As for Yema's song, it's a desperate plea to understood, wishing that all of a sudden her partner would sync up with her thoughts and feelings so they could be perfectly aligned. But, if fate is truly real, maybe that's why things just aren't matching up the way that they need to. "Synchronicity" is inspired by the likes of Lola Kirke and Big Thief, with a hazy, indie rock soundscape that is heavy on the guitar and drums but also has just a little bit of an Americana twang.

4 Hearts

Switching up the mood, we have "4 Hearts", a beautiful and joyful dedication to friendship; more specifically, to Yema's three best friends of all time. Being in a romantic relationship is one thing, but having best friends who unconditionally love you and will have your back for the rest of your life is another. Having something like that is so special, and you're lucky to have one - let alone three! Inspired by CASTLEBEAT, Cults and The Radio Dept, "4 Hearts" has a super dreamy pop soundscape with nostalgic indie pop tones. It's heavy on the synths and reverb, and has a gorgeous guitar riff that I personally just can't get over.

Sheets

Next we have "Sheets", which is both a sweet and sensual song about queer confusion and sexual exploration. With lyrics filled with what Yema describes as a humorous amount of sexual innuendoes, "Sheets" is a gentle ballad with a very classic, almost 50's soft pop/rock feel and groove with inspiration taken from artists like Sufjan Stevens, Cocteau Twins and Her's. The reverb adds to the passionate atmosphere, as the song builds and gets heavier with it's dynamics as it nears the end.

You are an Angel

Last but certainly not least, we have "You are an Angel" which is a message to from Yema to her younger self as well to any other victims of abusive relationships out there. It's a bittersweet reminder that even though what you went through was not okay, you're still here and you're not alone. Perhaps one of the most important reminders is that none of it was your fault, either. This is the track where we hear the title of the EP as Yema sings, "Oh pretty baby, if you're hurt, me too. I feel it too". "You are an Angel" has a soundscape that reminds me of 90's era soft rock, starting out with gorgeous acoustic guitar and building into a blooming cathartic mixture of instrumentation, including a brass band in the emotional, tear-jerking outro.

My first thoughts were - "This is insanely good for a debut EP". Everything is just so well thought out and put together; from the storytelling, the grooves and melodic structures, the sound quality and production, you'd never know that this project was an independent debut release. Yema's passion for what she is doing is so clear in both her songwriting and behind the emotion in her voice, which is so important when it comes to being able to connect to music like this. Her sound is already so established and I love how every song on this EP just flows so well together. Believe it or not, this is still the very beginning for Yema and I absolutely cannot wait to hear what she does next. Make sure to follow Yema below to keep tabs on her journey!

Written By Kaitlyn Nicole

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