Amelia McLean Bled the Beauty from Pain in the Dusky Alt Indie Pop Single ‘Dark Days’ –

With her dusky with melancholy vocals, meta lyrics, and ethereally cinematic sonic palette, Amelia McLean reached cathartic depths in her latest single, Dark Days. Rather than deliver an archetypal pop release, she unravelled a refuge for anyone wearied by the performance of positivity in a world that rewards emotional suppression.

The artful flourishes in the piano progressions as they push through the moody reverb affirm that Dark Days isn’t a soundscape for salvation; it’s a microcosm of sanctuary. One that lets listeners prise the beauty from pain, just as McLean did while constructing the mournfully tender architecture of this alt indie pop ballad that transcends the grasp of trends. It’s the kind of release that will grip the coquette crowd while haunting the hearts of anyone drawn to the dark academia aesthetic.

Dark Days is the second single to be released from McLean’s forthcoming debut album, Frowned Upon Daughter, a stream-of-consciousness reflection on an absurd upbringing shaped over two years of self-funded recording and emotional excavation. With production support from Justin Glasco and David Levita, the layered sound design accentuates the intimacy in the lyricism without overshadowing the pensive poetry she penned for anyone clawing their way through the cracks.

Catch McLean live at Sofar Sounds in Los Angeles on 19th September as she performs more tear-stained laments from her upcoming LP.

Dark Days is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. 

Dark Days is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
–
Review by Amelia Vandergast