Review: "The Other Side of Twenty Five" - St. Catherine's Child

We all wish we could give our younger selves some advice. Maybe you want to warn them about something, or perhaps you just want to tell them that things get better, but St. Catherine’s Child’s “The Other Side of Twenty Five” is more of an exploration into her youth. It’s less advice and more like a conversation– or a consolation. A country-tinged indie ballad, this song is St. Catherine’s Child’s dive into our shifting perspectives when we are confronted with mortality. Listeners are taken on a journey through her father’s passing as she dispenses wisdom and introspection upon a situation so unimaginable. This track will speak to any of you who are going through a major transition in your life, and is hopefully a comfort to you.

If you love a poignant ballad, then “The Other Side of Twenty Five” has got you more than covered. The track is filled with beautiful songwriting and folk influences; there are gentle twinkles combined with soft percussion and smooth vocals. And that guitar is fantastic– just a little twangy in the intro, but it always makes room for the other instrumentation. I really loved how the entire production felt like a conversation, all very calm and guided. The songwriting is where the song truly shines, though, with St. Catherine’s Child’s amazing eloquence on full display in this track. This track will definitely hit home hard for anyone who’s gone through the extremely tough transition between having a parent and then losing them– especially to a terminal illness. Highlighting innocence lost and wisdom gained from those moments, "The Other Side of Twenty Five" is infinitely relatable yet still personal, and I think that's what makes it such a magical song.

Ilana Zsigmond is the woman behind St. Catherine’s Child. A transatlantic singer-songwriter who hails from England, Ilana has been surrounded by music since her childhood. She bounced around continents as her musical parents toured. Before she settled back in the UK in 2015, she formed a band that reflected her childhood Americana aesthetics while combining the dry wit of her British sensibilities. She’s known for her eloquence and vocal strength, which St. Catherine’s Child encompasses in each track. Her 2020 debut single “Burden” released to major success. Likewise, her 2023 debut EP Every Generation made a huge splash. “The Other Side of Twenty Five” is part of her upcoming debut album This Might Affect You. Be sure to drop St. Catherine’s Child a follow if you loved this track and want to be there for her album’s release date on June 15th!

Written By Alexa Leung

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