EP Review: “born blue” - Tommy Lefroy

Tommy Lefroy are an indie rock duo based in London, formed by Canadian singer Tessa Mouzourakis and American singer Wynter Bethel. The band, which cleverly draw their name from Thomas Lefroy, the rumored love interest of Jane Austen, have a strong passion for words, evident in their lyricism that blends literary inspiration with modern storytelling.

The duo met in Nashville in 2017 and began collaborating in 2018, releasing several projects since then. Most recently, they released their third EP, born blue, on October 24, 2024. This six-song collection was written and produced entirely by the two of them, who describe it as “made with love, from loss, with flickers of hope.”

The band are known for their soft, mesmerizing harmonies, often complemented by distorted yet delicate guitar melodies, creating a unique and cohesive sound. The poetically vulnerable lyrics on born blue reflect the authenticity and passion that Tommy Lefroy bring to all their art, while still standing out from their previous works.

The EP opens with the powerful drums of “Garden,” a song about recognizing your worth in a relationship where someone else holds all the power. The grand production strongly supports their vocals, creating a rhythmically satisfying experience that emotionally captures the resentment and frustration conveyed in the lyrics.

The next track, “Let Me,” is a particularly meaningful song for the band, who dedicate it to "all of you who've held too tightly to things that hurt deeply . . . you can free yourself from what you thought would always bind you." The chorus, which repeats the line “Just let me let this go,” evolves from a regretful plea into a persistent mantra that those who hurt us don’t have to weigh us down forever. The layered vocals and echoing refrain express a desperation for freedom, a recurring theme in later tracks.

“kingpin” is a song that perfectly captures the anxiety of growing older and facing an uncertain future. The song is largely stripped back, allowing the duo’s raw vocals and harmonies to shine. The lines “Hopelessly devoted to a construct of something to show / Never really knowing what I have” will resonate deeply with anyone who’s found themselves relying on external validation for self-worth. This track feels like an exhale, a pause on the chaos to realize how far we’ve come, regardless of how unpredictable the future feels.

The end of “kingpin” transitions beautifully into the piano solo that opens “Girlhood, Godhood,” a song that is both vulnerable and empowering. The lyrics draw direct inspiration from the following excerpt of Kristin Chang’s poem “Churches”:

Godhood is just

like girlhood:

a begging to be believed.

The chorus is gentle and raw, expressing a desire to “be free” and to "be ugly" and to "be mean," a rejection of society’s expectations for women to be confined, attractive, and pleasant. The line "Don't wanna be seen / Wanna be believed in, believed" echoes Chang's poem and emphasizes their longing for understanding beyond superficial attention. The added drums in the second verse lead to the powerful harmonies and intensity of the bridge. The duo’s ability to make the song feel alive through their vocals easily make this song one of the best on the EP and possibly their entire discography.

“You Exist” is a song for the existentialists and those prone to sadness. The EP’s title comes from the chorus, where they sing, "We're born blue / I got used to it / 'Til you came to keep me alive.” These lyrics are about meeting someone who brings colour to an otherwise monotonous life but is contrasted with this person’s existentialist viewpoint. The bridge, brought to life by quickened drum beats and amplified vocals, conveys an almost desperation, trying to reach someone questioning the meaning of life. The lines, "When I don’t have it in me to conjure divinity / Breathe for me, for me, try" are both insistent and comforting, as they urge the other person to keep going and to stay alive. The track concludes with them softly repeating, “You’re alright,” and as their voices fade out, these two words sum up the meaning of the song.

The EP closes with the tender vocals and gentle finger-picking of “Rivals.” This track conveys a feeling of hesitation and inadequacy, while still wanting to feel worthy of the love they desire. The swelling harmonies are hauntingly beautiful, weaving a thread of hope throughout the song that ties the entire project together.

When discussing born blue, Tommy Lefroy express how much of the album is inspired by the connection they feel with others who share a tendency towards sadness. They note that “when you look very closely at most things, there is sadness and beauty, each highlighting the intricacies of the other.” Tommy Lefroy effortlessly capture these intricacies with heart-wrenchingly honest lyrics and an earnest passion that never fails to stand out in their music.

Tommy Lefroy recently opened for Niall Horan’s The Show: Live on Tour in Europe, and they will be performing a series of intimate acoustic shows across North America throughout November.

born blue is out now streaming on all music platforms, so be sure to check it out!

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