Yasmin Coe, a girl power pop artist hailing from Hull but based in Manchester, recently released her debut EP ‘The Most I Could Do’ on November 29th to the anticipation of fans. The EP is an exploration of life as a young woman, navigating relationships and conflicts which leave marks on your life that you can never truly escape from. ‘The Most I Could Do’ is laced with that painstaking realism that listeners crave, a taste of their own lives amongst an artist’s story which can provide them with comfort or teach them an important lesson. Yasmin has said “The EP itself is really ‘The Most I Could Do’, I have poured every emotion and intention into this, it’s the most I could give’.
The EP begins with ‘Opener’, a vulnerable track which paves the way for ‘The Most I Could Do’. An ethereal synth opens the song, transporting listeners into the glorious mind and art of Yasmin Coe. The delicate strum of the guitar truly sounds like floating off into this other world. ‘Opener’ bursts open with gothic flat notes and a heavier electric guitar, a battle march of broken hearts giving listeners a chance to finally be heard. Standout lyrics, ‘everything I do I only meant to try my best for you’ convey giving your all for someone even when you’re not in the position to give your all for yourself. Yasmin’s siren-like vocals close the song, haunting listeners with their own memories which swim within her beautiful lyricism and drawing them in if they hadn’t been obsessed with her sound already. Short but sweet, ‘Opener’ is the perfect entrance to an EP that will stick with listeners for it’s relatability in a world so full of shallow systematic hits.
Jangly guitars and an addictive melody consume listeners in the next track, ‘When You Can’t Have Her’. The song is about the type of unrequited love where you will never be good enough for the one you love no matter what you do as they are still stuck in a trance, dancing through memories of their past relationship rather than living in the present with someone who is emotionally available for them. The raw lyrics, ‘is it distracting that I don’t have her face’ comment on that comparison and longing that can trap you, giving listeners an escape from that cruel feeling. Otherworldly harmonies and an enchanting rhythm will strike listeners in the heart before making them whole again.
The single ‘Expected As Much’ is described as “a sad girl tune turned grunge pop banger”. It is a punchy anthem of angst and heartache about knowing you can’t rely on someone’s love but diving into an unstable relationship anyway. ‘Expected As Much’ is also fuelled by resilience, a healing ritual after accepting your mistake and rising stronger than ever from the experience. Yasmin’s deep and smooth vocals paired with a relentless bass and a shredding guitar create a killer track with an intoxicating 90’s sound that feels like one long high. Lyrics from the chorus, ‘I don’t know what I expected of you, but I know what you wanted from me’ reinforce the feeling of knowing you’re being used but falling in love anyway, bringing closure to listeners who have faced this experience of thinking they can fix someone who wants to remain broken.
Beginning stripped right back with just a gentle guitar riff, the next single ‘Linen’ blossoms into a powerhouse anthem of nostalgic infatuation, a crippling fear of change and a rich shoegaze sound to draw everything together. The track explores finding comfort with a person, hiding under the linen bedsheets away from the world’s judgement even when there’s a lack of commitment within the relationship. Standout lyrics, ‘I’m running for buses that were late anyway’ give ‘Linen’ an air of acceptance, when you realise you’re charging forward too fast so life is passing you by, sometimes you just need to stop and look at everything and everyone you’re lucky to have around you. Yasmin’s vocals are as always beautifully controlled, leaving listeners on a high of her girl power pop sound.
Yasmin has said “’Closer’, reaches a resolution that you can’t always get over certain life events, but you can accept that the time has passed and you have grown musically, it’s my favourite song on the EP’. The lyrics, ‘giving it my time was the most I could do’ close the EP beautifully, highlighting both the hardships in life and the strength to overcome them. ‘Closer’ opens with the chaotic notes of the strings immersing listeners one final time before drawing to a close with a sweeping synth, a full circle moment of self-discovery to leave listeners pondering for days to come.
So go and check out ‘The Most I Could Do’ to visit your best and worst memories within Yasmin’s rich lyricism.
FOLLOW YASMIN COE ON INSTAGRAM
Leave a Reply