There’s something about Yorke’s debut EP, Liberosis, that keeps drawing me back in. I listened to an advanced stream weeks before it dropped near the end of March. I enjoyed it immensely, marvelling at her intimate vocals and introspective lyrics. I thought she was musically so interesting, with a natural flair for layering beats with accessible indie-pop melodies. Yet, strangely enough, I didn’t put my fingers to the keyboard and write a review.
The very best music isn’t there for us in mere moments. We return to it time and time again. Listening to the songs from Liberosis this morning felt like catching up with an old friend. My husband stopped to listen and asked me whether it was the new Taylor Swift album. There’s a similar sweetness about Yorke’s vocals, a comparable knack for killer pop melodies. Just like Taylor, Yorke isn’t afraid to write confessional lyrics either. Songs like the single “Nights We Waste” expose the mistakes, the drinking, the questionable relationship choices. It’s messy, but growing up always is. And when you have the right soundtrack, it’s a little easier to bear. As those of us who’ve lived through it understand, with the right tunes you can figure out who you are, and what you want.
With Liberosis, Yorke shows great potential. It’s pitch-perfect pop, the kind of music that’s easy to underestimate, especially if you’re an old, jaded listener. However, spend some time with it and you might just find it restores your faith in the genre.
Yorke has pushed back her Liberosis launch shows to October. Tickets are available now from her website. You know everyone will be desperate for live shows by then, so get in early to avoid missing out!
15 October 2020 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
16 October 2020 – Waywards, Sydney
17 October 2020 – Grace Darling, Melbourne
Image used with permission from Island Records Australia