Seinabo Sey
Sweet Life (EP)
Universal
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Swedish-Gambian singer-songwriter Seinabo Sey marked cards early. Released in 2015, her debut EP For Madeleine bristles with drama, sophistication and her distinct and memorable voice. Her debut album (Pretend) came the following year and added a touch more dance floor to proceedings to showcase her talents.
2018’s I’m A Dream was one of my favorite albums of that year and saw her songcraft mature and bloom even further, as a pop sensibility allied to a sense of empowerment lent considerable weight to proceedings. Now she returns, three years later with an EP entitled Sweet Life that was composed during the pandemic.
Though slight in length (just 4 tracks lasting barely 12 minutes), Sey manages to convincingly convey a calm that lasts beyond the listening experience. Those harder dance floor edges are gone, replaced by a blissful balm of (mainly) gentle electronic backdrops.
At the heart of it all is her unique and instantly recognizable voice—she is given more space to work and the deep, alluring tones of her voice are a delight. “Blue” is a lesson in restraint as what could have soared off into the pop ether, remains tantalizingly rooted to the ground and establishes the relaxed atmosphere. While “Rom-Com” is slightly more driven, it retains the same blissed out approach to love’s perils and pitfalls.
Despite its title, “I’m Just Mad (Bitch)” manages to maintain the atmosphere courtesy of the most organic backdrop Sey has had for a long time and she sounds so good in the setting, it makes you want more of that when her next album surfaces. As she sings: “He was all I ever wanted / That’s why I hold him tight / Hell no that bitch won’t see me cry / Hell no that bitch won’t see me cry,” she avoids anger and opts instead for defiance.
Things are rounded off by “Sweet Dreams,” which threatens a breakout chorus, only to maintain the sense of calm that exudes throughout.
It may be brief, but it is memorable and offers a chance for Sey to show off her beguiling voice, making the wait for her next album an intriguing one.
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