A long time in the making, ‘Snakes In Paradise’ marks a triumphant milestone for Sara Sue Vallee. As well as giving us a close insight into the nuanced and soulful artistry that permeates the project, the EP also closes a creative chapter that started just under a year ago with ‘Pretty Little Sad Thing’. Good things take time, a wise human once said. ‘Snakes In Paradise’ confirms it, unveiling five tracks that suddenly make sense as a thematic, whole record.
Built on a cinematic alt-pop production, the EP contains strong hints of soulful allure, a quality that translates into luscious melodism and a striking contrast between intensity and intimacy. Part light and part darkness, Vallee’s writing gently threads the fine line between sobering melancholia and hopeful charge. The record was written between Mexico, Toronto, and her home base of Montreal.
From a lyrical standpoint, ‘Snakes In Paradise’ feels decisively introspective and cathartic, a relatable record that we suspect emerges from a great deal of personal experience and outward observation. Sara Sue Vallee is particularly inspired by the Ouroboros, an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon devouring its own tail, imagery that points to the cyclic nature of the human experience. As we are told, the EP “explores themes of escapism, self-sabotage, and idealised relationships, as well as the difficulty of breaking free from repeating patterns.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Snakes In Paradise’ now: