SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAWN SEV – TART

Dawn Sev
Tart
Independent

Dawn Sev’s debut EP, Tart, features four diverse songs that showcase her distinct talent and her love of various forms of music. In less than 15 minutes, Sev explores various forms of music and she does it extremely well. This is an artist who has spent a great deal of time observing life and music. And it has paid off. She writes observational story songs that are not only well-crafted but relatable.

The EP opens with her debut single, the wonderful “Five Drinks In”. This is a spoken-word song that is reminiscent of Meryn Cadell and other narrative storytellers. The song is funny but has a dark foundation. It has a great tune and Sev’s vocals are bang on with her lyrics. It is a wonderful introduction to her music and the EP. This followed by a cow-punk type song, “Click”, which she sings with Aaron Marttinen, who co-produced the EP with Tony Zavitson. “Click” is a wonderful country-tinged conversation that is a brilliant short blast. It also demonstrates her ability to sing beautifully.

“After Times” is next and grounds the listener into a reality that no one wanted to face. Again, there are some amusing comments in the song, but her reflection of life is emotional and powerful. It is a beautiful song and one that does leave the listener facing issues that are difficult to express in words. Yet, Sev does, and she does it well. Tart ends with the grinding, punk(ish) “Too Bad About Your Wife”, which is a blast. It showcases her guitar skills and is a fun song.

All said, this is a solid EP from a new artist, who makes relevant and important music. These four songs demonstrate that Sev has a great deal to say and she expresses herself extremely well. This is a great introduction and I am excited to see how Sev follows this up in the future. In the meantime, Tart is well worth your time and effort.

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