“Over” provides perfect breakup music
If breakup songs were like apple pie, Taylor Swift would be Marie Callender. She has manufactured the perfect, sticky-sweet formula that turns breakup anthems into ubiquitous hits for the under under-16 crowd. There isn’t much in the realm of good man-hating, breakup music for those who seem to have outgrown teenage heartbreak and are looking for something a little more sophisticated. Enter Zeta Wave, an Indie-pop/dance singer-songwriter and her Seattle band who may have turned the tables on grown-up millennial breakup music.
So “Over” it · Zeta Wave brings synth-heavy, emotional songs, her vocals blend with the production to produce the sound of 80’s pop singers. – Photo courtesy of Noisetrade
Her 6-track EP, “Over,” is a synth-driven collection of dreamy beats and haunting vocals that put her past relationship experiences in the spotlight. Chronicling the last few years of her life, “Over” is a killer EP that’s got all the right amounts of dance, pop and mature lyrics that will surely soothe relationship woes. Fortunately for all those who are embarrassed to still be crying alongside T. Swift, “Over” brings up just enough moody attitude to be the perfect grown-up breakup EP.
With synth-driven dance music becoming much more mainstream, and the sounds of a real guitar more rare by the second, making an EP that will cause a splash in the unforgiving world of radio-hit EDM has become increasingly difficult. While Zeta Wave, the stage name of Aliya Hashemi, isn’t quite making beats following in Avicii’s footsteps, she is capitalizing on how there are barely any female producers making songs that girls can relate to — a gap in the genre that could catapult her and her EP to stardom.
The EP opens with “Strange Heartbeat,” a tune reminiscent of girl pop wonders of the ’80s like Kim Carnes. Zeta Wave’s throaty vocals pair perfectly with the sleepy pop beat as she bemoans a lost love who had even let her meet his mom. This opener sets the tone for the entire EP.
Unfortunately, “Over’s” weak spot turns up just as the final chords of “Strange Heartbeat” close. “Cliché” is a campy, sticky-sweet, unoriginal undying love anthem that is way too far away from the Lily Allen-esque lyrics present throughout the rest of the EP. Ironically, Zeta Wave assures listeners that the relationship she’s describing in “Over’s” second dance pop song doesn’t have to fall under any old category. Unfortunately for her, the gag-worthy lyrics claiming “you feel like Christmas morning / and I was six years old,” are exactly the kind of cliché novice singer songwriters should be trying to avoid. But the catchy “Cliché” is far from this album’s pitfall. While it is undoubtedly the weakest track on the EP, it will surely be played in countless cars while drivers focus on the fun dance-worthy beat and tune out the cloying lyrics.
After that quick nose-dive, Zeta Wave comes zooming back up with sassy vocals alongside a punchy beat in “Waltz.” This tightly produced track makes listeners want to nod their heads along :whether they’re running on the treadmill or just doing homework. Recently released as her second single off of the EP, “Waltz” gives new listeners a perfect glimpse into the whimsical, high-energy world that Zeta Wave’s music seems to have been meant to accompany.
Along with “Strange Heartbeat,” “Girls” is a quintessential girl power breakup song. With fun upbeat guitars, drums and synthesizers that work perfectly with strong vocals, the lyrics “When it’s over / there’s no mistaking it / there’s a fork in the road / and I’m taking it,” have just enough punch.
In a departure from everything else on the EP, the final song, “Birthday,” introduces a new sound to the album. Devoid of the upbeat dance beats found on the other tracks, “Birthday” features soft falsetto vocals paired with an acoustic guitar and crooning backup vocals.
Zeta Wave is easily filling the hole that has appeared in between mainstream D.J.s and teenybopper pop singers. While she probably won’t be playing any major EDM festivals or headlining her own stadium tour anytime soon, she is definitely an up-and-coming musician with the potential to become a driving force in her genre. If she stays true to form of “Over” and maintains this level of fun, upbeat production and truthful and relatable lyrics, Zeta Wave has the perfect formula to crank out radio hits.
In an interview with the Examiner, Hashemi calls Zeta Wave’s own sound “bedroom dance pop,” and this couldn’t be a more perfect description. Perfect to get through a breakup, or just to drive around town with the windows down, “Over” is a great EP for anyone looking for something a little different but still approachable. Although “Strange Heartbeat” and “Waltz” have already been released as singles, the rest of the EP will be available for download off of Zeta Wave’s website on Oct. 14.