Arig is one of those special talents that refuses to be pigeonholed. She showcases the full breadth of her artistry with the release of RECKLESS today, the long-awaited follow-up to her 2018 debut EP, Attrition.
I loved Attrition, an EP which explored Arig’s feelings about growing up with her mum in government housing in Australia after the pair fled conflict-ridden Eritrea, so I was keen to wrap my ears around this release. So I was a bit taken aback by the opening tracks, “His Nation” and “Pop Off”. They’re real party jams, with unashamedly swaggy lyrics, a real departure from the introspective music on the first EP.
But by the third track, “Lambos in Logan”, I was warming to this reinvented Arig. With its deep bass groove and confident lyrics, it makes a strong statement that Arig is a real force. “Intoxicated” is a more stripped back, like an old-school slow jam. Arig picks up the tempo again for “Goodness Gracious,” an infectious R’n’B bop with some powerful lyrics about loving someone who’s hurt you deeply.
While I appreciated Arig’s evolution, in my opinion she saves the best for last. From the moment you hear the opening acoustic notes of “Freedom.” A beautifully simple folk song, it’s simultaneously emotionally vulnerable and strong. This is such an intimate recording, one that lets you hear every movement of the guitarist’s hands and every break in Arig’s voice. I was determined to write a review of this EP based on the strength of this song alone. It’s that good.
While Arig played with genres with her first release, she seems even more determined to take risks here. A self-described “messy chameleon,” it’s hard to believe that the artist who bared her soul in “Freedom” is the same one fronting in “His Nation.” Some songs I fell for instantly while others took me a little longer, but I appreciate that she’s showing us all sides of herself and taking risks. It’s so diverse that you might not love the entire RECKLESS EP, but you certainly won’t forget it.
RECKLESS is out now. Arig’s got EP launch dates in the works, but until then people in her new hometown of Eora/Sydney can see her play an intimate free show at The Dock on February 18.
Main photo credit: James Kenny
