South London-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Lex Vervain just released his self-titled EP and showcases elements influenced by artists such as Black Midi, HMLTD, and Geordie Greep.
Vervain released a string of releases ahead of his musical offering ‘Lex Vervain’, which is stacked with sharp words dressed in soulful soundscapes that bring together indie folk, shoegaze and slipstream. In case you’re not familiar with that last term, it’s whichever element you do not recognise. Vervain brings up topics such as love and fallouts, emotions like anger and shame, and talks about coffee cups and busted records.
Its soft and introspective sound is a welcome distraction from the fast-paced haze of everyday life, and ‘Made In Heaven’ is the perfect EP-opener. A warm and vibrant soundscape and soft, angelic vocals make for a wandering journey through the musical influences that have formed Lex Vervain. We hear a gentle pulse on ‘Favourite Song’ and a poetic soar on ‘Say It All’, similar to that of one of our favourites; Tamino. ‘Digital Sink’ pulses and strums more, hinting at an indie pop sound that could easily sway and move festival fields, and there’s a hint of jazzy guitar lines on ‘Swollen Sanctuary’.
Vervain ends his EP with a live version of ‘Fading’ which is a personal favourite as its got a personable style that makes us feel we are with them in their living room, listening to this guitar-driven live rendition of his wandering alternative pop arrangements. It shimmers with the wind and showcases a beautiful balance between voice and guitar, although that stunning voice could have shone a little brighter if you were to ask me.
‘Fading’ is what one can expect when going to one of Lex’s live shows, where he plays solo and needs nothing else besides his ear-pricking vocals, the crisp acoustic fretwork, reverb and occasional soft beats. He moved from Crawley to London nearly seven years ago and has been making music in the city ever since, showcasing that London can suit someone when this is the sound that comes out of it!
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