As teased in a previous article, NORA’s ‘happy fcking valentines day’ EP is out today, a slice of romantic introspection wrapped in anthemic, luscious pop goodness. It’s a record that might appear playful on the surface, but that contains nuggets of painful truths, as well as purposeful abstraction centred around society’s views on relationships and dating. As NORA eloquently explains:“It’s a character-driven pop EP that reframes love, longing and independence through humour, drama and performance. It leans into exaggeration and softness in equal measure, tracing the emotional contradictions of being single around Valentine’s Day, from giddy obsession to chaos, clarity and quiet comedown.”
Packed with six bold and electrifying pop cuts, ‘happy fcking valentines day’ dives deep into “exaggerated romantic archetypes, emotional chaos, and the fantasy of choosing yourself after the mess.” It’s also a timely reminder of the boundless talent and committed artistic vision that propels NORA’s worldbuilding efforts. We appreciate how the Norwegian creative manages to get comfortable with all-out, hard-hitting anthems as well as with melancholic, brooding introspection. From a sonic standpoint, we are served a hypnotic menu of cutting-edge hyperpop sheen.
The thematic storytelling that filters through the EP makes for an interesting listening experience, as each song manifests a different chapter of the same novel. While the tracks themselves are rather short and snappy, their lyricism takes us through euphoric highs and vulnerable lows, ultimately a fitting showcase of what it means to date in an increasingly problematic society.
Recommended! Discover ‘happy fcking valentines day’ now: