We Speak Music
Vague Notion Reveal Debut EP ‘GLOW’
Vague Notion – the joint project of vocalist Cheryl Janzen and multi-instrumentalist Bevan Early – are an indie electronic/post punk band who bring you their debut EP GLOW. It is an EP that reaches across genres into a cohesive sonic world that feels less like a collection of tracks and more like a continuous immersive and tactile environment. They guide the listener through the EP’s shifting emotional and sonic landscape.
It opens with ‘Visceral Reaction’ which introduces the sci-fi beats that permeate throughout the album, establishing the EP’s atmospheric landscape it will continue to build upon. Janzen’s voice reverberates throughout the song in ethereal echoes, carrying repetitive lyrics ‘A visceral reaction’ and ‘A glow all around’, rebounding instinctually like these reactions do, anchoring in the gut, as if echoing through the space the EP constructs. ‘We Made It So’ leans into crunchy, wailing guitar leads and heavier drum beats which anchor the song amidst stacked, reverb vocals, grounding the EP’s more abstract textures in something more physical and immediate.
‘Peace Dub’ is anchored by snare drums, cymbals and rhythmic snaps against a recurring bass loop. It experiments with cricket sounds weaving through the backing, offering an unexpected take on electronic lofi, introducing organic textures that expand the EP’s sonic environment outward. Moments of respite allow the lyrics to stand for themselves – ‘There it is, right in front of me’ – creating pockets of space within the EP’s otherwise dense, immersive world. ‘Blue Skinned Dog’ opens with futuristic beats and high tonal frequencies that zip and scale across a steady drum beat. Alongside soaring, layered vocals, the intensity of the textured instrumental becomes immersive, pulling the listener into its disorienting rhythm expanding the EP’s world.
The EP closes with ‘Book of Time’ and ‘A Little Distraction’. ‘Book of Time’ leads with a controlled chaos with layers of cinematic chords, electric tonalities and otherworldly synths. The vocals lead with a rasping quality, building in a way that reflects the meditation on time and loss within the lyrics, as the world it has constructed begins to feel more unstable. ‘A Little Distraction’ takes a softer, dreamier approach to the album’s sound. It pairs wailing guitars with choral vocal runs and strong anchoring synth beats. The lyrics move in cycles, circling back on events and phrases to highlight an internal tension that builds toward an abrupt sonic end, bringing the EP to a close that feels less like resolution and more like a sudden exit from its immersive space.
GLOW is an EP that flirts with sci-fi textures to create a sonically unique experience, one that could comfortably sit within the Blade Runner soundtrack and not feel out of place, with its futuristic, cinematic textures aligning with that same dystopian atmosphere. Cheryl Janzen’s vocals sit at an intersection between Chrissie Hynde’s smoky delivery and Björk’s eccentricities. Bevan Early’s intricately layered instrumentation pushes the EP further into new, disorienting territory. Rather than simply blending genres, GLOW constructs a distinct sonic environment that the listener moves through, positioning Vague Notion within a space where atmosphere, texture, andkaz world-building became as central as song structure itself.
“GLOW, is Vague Notion at their most expansive and emotionally luminous, an EP that moves like shifting light through mountain air. It captures their signature blend of cinematic electronics and raw human expression, while pushing into a brighter, more forward-facing energy that feels both fearless and deeply alive,” shares music publicist Danielle Holian, Decent Music PR.
Connect with Vague Notion: Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, Spotify
Swiss artist Fanny Alexandra returns with “Black Pearl Summer”, a new single that finds her exploring a more open side of her alternative sound. Released via Now Listen, the track combines coastal imagery with a story about growing through grief, pressure and the experiences that can shape a person over time.
Alexandra notes that the song is relatively summery by her own standards. She has said that her music is usually darker and that she has never been particularly drawn to the typical idea of summer, preferring cold air, jackets and rugged coastlines. That gives the release a clear sense of personality from the outset.
The song centres on Alexandra’s reflections on being 19 and spending years focused on survival rather than fully living. Those experiences are presented through the image of a black pearl, which becomes a way of considering how something worthwhile can emerge from a challenging period.
What makes the track particularly effective is the balance between its subject matter and its musical approach. The production gives the song room to breathe, while Alexandra keeps the focus firmly on the story she is telling. It means the track can be enjoyed as a seasonal release while still offering more to discover in the lyrics.
There is also a clear sense of change in the way Alexandra approaches her younger self. The song is not about returning to that period or trying to erase it. Instead, it considers what can be learned from experiences that once felt overwhelming.
“Black Pearl Summer” therefore offers newcomers a useful introduction to Alexandra’s work. It shows an artist comfortable writing about serious subjects, while also demonstrating a lighter musical side that may not be as familiar to listeners who know her darker material.
It is an interesting glimpse of what Alexandra can do when she lets a little more light into the picture.
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