2022 REVIEWS: AUSTYN WITH A Y – ALL EYES ON ME

austyn with a y is learning how to navigate the complications of exposure with his heartfelt EP, “all eyes on me”.

I recently bonded with austyn with a y over our love of the fast-food chain Bojangles (which has amazing sweet tea if you’re into that kind of thing). He asked if I’d want to hear his newest EP before the official release, and I replayed it on a constant loop walking around my college campus the next day. It’s about navigating the difficult phases as a growing artist and the pressure that comes with it. He says that writing it all out “just makes it feel better for me”. This will be his newest EP since the lovely “views from outside my bedroom window” in 2021. There’s a total of four songs which he produced, mixed and mastered himself. Theres some impressive features from Brooklyn alternative artist wishlane, and the other is from swazy, a various artists member and frequent collaborator on austyn’s singles. “I do” with wishlane has been out for awhile, and acted as a good incentive for fans to wait a little longer for the full project.

“all eyes on me” is a calmer opening track. His voice floats to the forefront of the ambient guitar and takes the spotlight. The comforting, lofty rhythm gives way for his lyrical talent to shine. He gets vulnerable with lines like “I can’t take the pressure of being seen” which hauntingly fades into “how am I supposed to live my dream, hiding in the shadows of my fears?”. Standout single “I do” is a continuation of this lull into something more heartfelt. The guitar is earthy yet transcendent, and wishlane’s deeper vocals blend into a perfect harmonization with austyn. It seems like the calm before the storm, with “insomnia” creeping closely behind.

This one is heavier, with a dizzy descent into darkness. Swazy’s voice is raspy, pleading for any sign of hope. It’s not as grounded as the rest with each artist showing less vocal control and austyn’s versatility taking the spotlight. “chronically online” is the last song on the EP, closing out with a calmer take on the feelings that come with being a growing artist navigating web collectives, playlists, and tweets. Again, his lyricism shines here, reminiscent of a heartfelt conversation with a friend. “chronically online” and the entirety of the EP, shapes a lullaby that he hopes will soothe the pressure within him.

Listen to the project below.