FINDING HOPE IN NOSTALGIA WITH ANAÏS & THE HOOPS’ DEBUT EP ‘GROWING PAINS’
ANAÏS & THE HOOPS
Graphic by Rosi Martens (Crave Music Magazine)
After three years of dedication along with both musical and personal growth, Anaïs & The Hoops have released their debut EP Growing Pains. This collection of six songs blends the wistfulness of childhood recollection and the thrill of the future, creating something that is utterly real and heart-filled.
Making her debut in 2020, lead vocalist Anaïs Lund set herself apart from the rest of the indie-pop scene with her bluesy vocal tone and refreshingly honest lyrics. The Brooklyn-based songwriter has since spread inspiration to other aspiring artists, continuing to foster an authenticity within her artistry. This authenticity is only heightened on this EP, bravely touching on nostalgic sentiments that offer comfort and reassurance to her listeners.
A driving theme throughout this EP is having the courage to live as the truest version of you, and how your younger self stays a part of you through that journey. These heart-warming messages, that are told through indie-folk instrumentals and jazzy vocals, have the ability to ease our hearts and minds about the uncertainties of finding out who you are in this life.
You
Pulling you in with blunt, determined acoustic strumming, it is already clear that Anaïs has something to get off her chest before she even sings a note. This track has an air of destructive devotion — having the will to stay true in the face of dishonesty. Bringing light to this painful back and forth between Anaïs’ own pure, love-filled intentions and the other person’s deceit, she sings, “Tell me what’s the use in lyin’? / Gatherin’ your words to bend them into somethin’ untrue.” The combination of Anaïs’ playful vibrato, mystical “ooos” and twee-like voice gives the song a subtle, witchy aura, which is only enhanced by the emotionally charged harmonies and instrumentals, thus creating an incredibly strong and tender opener for this EP.
Cool
Leaving behind the performance of trying to “play it cool,” Anaïs embraces uncertainty and sincerity with this song. Throughout the song she finds liberation within these growing pains, which effortlessly ties back to the overall theme of the EP. Anaïs displays her skills in songwriting by using vivid and consistent imagery: “In 2001, I planted a dream in my heart.” Keeping up with these personified lyrics, she refers back to this dream, “I watered it so that the roots would grow and seep into every inch of my veins.” Using these terms to describe a dream was a clever and poetic choice by Anaïs, as it encapsulates the feeling of rebirth. By the time we reach the bridge with Anaïs singing, “I’m done playing it cool,” the beat is stripped away and the multiplying backing vocals feel like a supportive echo of her inner strength. The personal addition of her friend Alex’s poem alongside the final, triumphant instrumentals wrapped this song up with a perfect comforting bow.
Passe le temps
Diving in with raw piano and acoustic before opening up into a fuller, drum-filled sound, this track is steadied by Anaïs silky, deep alto that makes the listener feel as though they are gliding through the notes and beats. Returning to her childhood roots, Anaïs makes the intuitive choice to sing in French. She creates this touching ability to connect with the listener even if they do not understand the language. The embrace of love and inevitability of change shine through with these lines: “Je n’ai pas peur de t’aimer” (“I’m not afraid to love you”) and “Laisse les saisons s’écouler” (“Let the seasons flow”). With the loving assistance of her mother, Anaïs crafted lyrics that reflected on the acceptance of what time has to offer, such as the understanding of the beauty behind living through multiple versions of ourselves.
Stick to the Script
What starts off as a song that exposes the universal desire for an outside force to fix what feels unfixable with the line, “Waiting on the world to bail me out of this mess”, soon transforms into a powerful declaration of self-assuredness. Using a blend of acoustic warmth and a subtle techno touch, Anaïs creates a welcoming atmosphere that makes space for relatability. The backing vocals drop a note that sails us into the confidence-inducing bridge, “And I’ll take the lead, and I’ll do it for me,” where the listener is given the power to be their own “selfish hero” alongside Anaïs. She puts her foot down and makes it clear that she has rewritten her own narrative, using a fun and unexpected violin run to whimsically lead us into the final chorus. As Anaïs sings her final uplifting words, “I’m working on throwing away all the negative words I collect,” we are left smiling with a new sense of hope.
Blue
With a light cymbal crash, we jump right into the EP’s most biting tune. The smooth, velvety vocals are laced with a smirk and a snark, coating the song in attitude. In the chorus, the airy backing vocals swell, which offer a vulnerability behind the otherwise edgy tone. This tone is heard while Anaïs sings, “I’m so sick of all of these lies,” but it drops and dials back to her softer, more raw voice as she ends on, “Hear me and I’ll feel new.” This vocal and emotional transformation shows the overall clash between an outward defiance and inner hurt.
Growing Pains
Building a sonic space that feels like the resting point between memory and present time, Anaïs beautifully concludes the EP with the title track. The fluid guitar strums burn bright with nostalgia, further driving home the continuous theme of learning while growing up. Anaïs’ reflects on the safety that comes with the naivety of youth, and the gentle acceptance of never getting that back. She brings an even deeper intimacy as she sings to her childhood friend, “Hey Jade, do you remember when we’d wait for life to begin.” The lyrics throughout this song offer a closeness with the listener as we all sing, “I miss the growing pains,” ironically understanding how our childhood struggles are now something we long for. Despite the bittersweet mood, Anaïs softens the tone with her light scatting that glides us through to the last chorus. We end on reassuring words that feel like Anaïs is wrapping a warm, comforting blanket over our shoulders, “I’m always there. / If you need to vent I’ll share your pain.”
Across six tracks, Anaïs & The Hoops spread a stunning message of self-discovery, bittersweet nostalgia, and the embrace of change. The intention behind this carefully crafted EP is strikingly apparent, which only makes the listener more devoted to the music and the artist. Using intimate storytelling and engaging instrumentals, Anaïs & The Hoops reminds us that growing up isn’t about leaving our younger self behind, it’s about finding ways to carry them with us.
