The joy of hearing a unique voice is the first thing that jumps into your consciousness when listening to Greta Stanley’s new EP ‘Bedroom City. Greta has been blessed with the lucky gift that every singer/songwriter would kill to have, a voice that is vulnerable and compelling, easily draws the listener in and manages to give the emotions behind lyrics a hidden depth.

Based in Cairns, Greta Stanley describes her sound as a ‘dash of guitar, bit of something sweet, a touch of folk, a sprinkle of pop, mixed with captivating vocals and clever lyrics’ and that does sound about right. As the title conveys, ‘Bedroom City’ is an invitation into an insular world, full of heartache and sweet despair. Many of the songs on the EP feel like you are overhearing a melodic conversation that Greta is having with her deeper self. This could make for a daunting listen, but Stanley’s delivery and vocal tones easily convey a depth of subtle emotion that take the listener into someone else’s world (or bedroom) for a brief period of time.

The EP starts with “Somebodies”, a bouncy tune with a catchy central refrain and a taste of the indie/pop sensibilities that are present throughout the rest of the album. The rhythmic strumming of the main riff is well matched with an insistent, marching drum line. The second track ‘Lakes’ (a live version of which recently topped Balcony TV’s Global Rumble Tracks) is a strong song, moody, full of space and one of my favourites on the album. The title track is a great example of the feeling that listeners are receiving an invitation to live in a private world and the song has a floating quality that is nicely centered with a beautiful vocal melody. While I enjoyed the entire EP, this song and ‘Alright With Me’ are stand out tracks in my subjective opinion and highlight the quality of the production.

‘Bedroom City’ was recorded at Big Sister Studios with Mark Myers (The Middle East, Emma Louise, Passenger, The Starry Field) after a successful crowd-funding campaign. Mark has managed to capture the warmth in Greta’s voice very well and has wisely left the vocals front and center in the mix. There is more going on in the background of the tracks than is apparent at first listen. The more I listen to the album, the more impressed I am with the production and the resulting EP has a dynamic movement that allows different instruments to rise and fall, complimenting the lyrical story with a deft touch that is evident within all of the songs. The way that new instrumental elements are introduced without feeling forced or breaking the spell of the song is a compliment to all of the artists involved.

A full 2014 saw Greta playing live on Triple J and supporting The Beautiful Girls, British India and Kingswood amongst others. After listening to ‘Bedroom City’, I am sure that the rest of 2015 will be equally busy for this talented young artist.

Eli Birchall.

Greta is launching Bedroom City at Crate 59 gallery, 59 sheridan street Cairns on the 25th July.  Doors 6pm show at 7pm. Supports by Josh Hore and Esscine. Entry by donation.

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