The mystifying duo, Marian Hill, released a short but very sweet EP last Friday. The six-song EP, “Was It Not” is dripping with so much raw emotion and sex appeal that you won’t know whether to cry or grab your lover and undress each other. The newest release comes two years after their hit album, “Unusual“.
Soulful singing, gripping lyrics, and sexy beats is the Marian Hill way and was created by Jeremy LLoyd and Samantha Gongol. The two masterfully meld aspects of R&B, Pop, and Jazz into captivating Electronic Dance Music tunes. The Philly based duo sent their song “Whisky” to a local radio station in 2013 and from there a small following began to grow. A catalyst in Marian Hill’s career came years later when their single “Down” was featured in an Apple advert. The track catapulted to the top of the charts and sent the pair crashing into the mainstream.
Marian Hill’s first song on the new EP is titled “was it not” which is also the title of the EP itself. The song starts slow and steady while Samantha Gongol’s smooth vocals swim into my eardrums and roll over a choppy beat. “was it not” explores the haunting side of missing a distant love and grappling with those feelings of longing. The track is accompanied by a melancholy music video featuring both Samantha Gongol and Jeremy LLoyd searching for something that once was.
“Was it not is a song we’ve wanted to make for a long time. It pulls deeply from the jazz influences we started from… It’s about feeling a yearning for what once was, but only for a second, because you remember why you left it in the past, and who you are now. It lives in a strange emotional in-between and we love it. A lot.”
Jeremy LLoyd
After dipping my toes into the deep and moody waters of “was it not”, the second track of the EP takes me cannonballing into a commanding bop. “take a number” features singer Doniua on the track with Samantha Gongol, and the results are a bad bitch banger oozing with confidence and attitude. In true Marian Hill fashion, the track is accompanied by a visually hypnotic video. Jeremy LLoyd shines in the music video while fans get to see him working on his body moving beats.
The third track on the EP, “like u do“, follows along with the theme of reflection on past relationships. Pop synth sounds lay the groundwork for Samantha Gongol’s vocals to bounce around on. “Like You Do” follows the signature Marian Hill style of cut up and distorted vocals to create different layers of hypnotizing sounds.
Saxophonist Steve Davit is featured on “eat u alive“, the fourth song on the EP. No stranger to Marian Hill, Steve Davit has been a part of the group from the beginning. His brassy and low tenor saxophone is the perfect compliment to Samantha Gongol’s seducing vocals on the track. This song takes me back to watching them exuberantly perform together at Electric Forest in 2017. Experiencing Marian Hill live in the Jubliee Tent is still one of my favorite sets to date. Steve Davit’s goofy yet charismatic stage presence is one I won’t soon forget and I hope to see him on tour with them again.
The last two tracks on “Was It Not” make for an emotionally powerful finish. “no one knows” had me slow dancing in my kitchen with goosebumps. The introspective track is beautifully written and showcases the personal and musical growth that Marian Hill has found. Jeremy LLoyd told fans on Instagram, “No One Knows” is the most personal Marian Hill song we’ve ever made. It made me cry when we were writing it, which is the first time that’s ever happened.” It’s undeniable how much heart and soul went into this track and record as a whole. “Where we could go” is a 30-second instrumental farewell to the EP and to fans. The track feels like a goodbye to one chapter and the beginning of another. “Was It Not” is a perfect 18-minute blend of soul-shaking, intimate, and dance evoking music that will have me hitting the replay button for a long time to come.
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