"Forever fifteen" Strikes a Chord
Mothica's newest EP is oddly amazing and very personal as it covers heavy topics.
By Tyler Lilly
Mothica's newest EP is oddly amazing and very personal as it covers heavy topics.
By Tyler Lilly
I have been following the artist Mothica loosely for years. I like her older stuff and her general aesthetic but was never all that into her. Then I listened to her latest EP, “forever fifteen” and I was completely taken aback. This EP is so deeply personal in a way that most pieces of art aren't, and is also incredibly relatable. The album manages to keep the dark pop backbone of Mothica’s earlier music but also expand and change it up in interesting ways. Just a fair waring though, this EP is pretty heavy so if you are sensitive to the subject of sucide, sexual abuse, or body dysmorphia this might not be for you.
The first song on the EP is “forever fifteen.” This song actually came out a little before the rest of the EP and once I heard it I knew that this album was going to be something special. The song tells the story of the artist’s sucide attempt and what led up to it while making some good points about how mental health of young teenagers is often swept under the rug. This song is not all dark though, as Mothica states this song is about growth, which can be seen as how it showcases the artist looking back. I also like the Hamlet references.
Musically the song is amazing. The slight electronic sounds work well to accentuate the artist's voice. Something else I liked a lot is that there is a slight change in the chorus’ lyrics. The last time it is sung, this slight change tells more of the story that was hinted at. The next song, “buzzkill,'' is the other standout of this album. This song sounds a lot more fun than “forever 15,” but if you even somewhat look at the lyrics you can see that this song is incredibly dark, with its focus on revenge. It could have been a much more melancholic experience but I like the way Mothica chose to make the song cathartic. I also quite liked the religious wording she used in the song. There are parts of the song when the beat drops that I can not help but head bang to. Both “buzzkill” and “forever 15” also have amazing music videos that I highly recommend checking out as well.
“funhouse” is an incredibly deep song about not being able to trust the mirror and the artists struggle with body image issues. This song, like the others on the album, has undertones of hope and being able to overcome your struggles. The song also includes the vocal stylings of Kailee Morgue, an artist I am not overly familiar with. Her vocals change up the EP slightly which I like.
“motions,” the next song, is about going through the motions of depression, having a tone which goes well with the theme. The background music of this track in particular I like a lot. I actually feel like this will be the one song I listen to the least on the album simply because it feels a little too real for me.
“intuition” is probably the most fun and lightest song on the album. The song is simply about how you should trust your gut. The song feels like a traditional alternative song with more pronounced guitar and drums and is probably the simplest on the album but I still like it.
The last song on the EP “upside” is probably the most hopeful of the album, which works well as an ending to the EP. It’s about optimistic nihilism and I heavily relate to this song in a way I have not connected to a song in a long time. Musically, the song is also upbeat and it is probably my favorite song on the EP as a whole.
A little bonus to listen to if you like this EP is her cover of Bring me the Horizons “Can You Feel My Heart.” This came out a little before the album, and is a good cover. It manages to change up the original sound but still keeps the deep emotion.
This EP managed to catch lighting in a bottle and I am not exaggerating when I say this is one of the best pieces of music I have ever listened to. I am incredibly excited to see where Mothica goes from here.
“forever fifteen” can be found on most music streaming sites.
The first song on the EP is “forever fifteen.” This song actually came out a little before the rest of the EP and once I heard it I knew that this album was going to be something special. The song tells the story of the artist’s sucide attempt and what led up to it while making some good points about how mental health of young teenagers is often swept under the rug. This song is not all dark though, as Mothica states this song is about growth, which can be seen as how it showcases the artist looking back. I also like the Hamlet references.
Musically the song is amazing. The slight electronic sounds work well to accentuate the artist's voice. Something else I liked a lot is that there is a slight change in the chorus’ lyrics. The last time it is sung, this slight change tells more of the story that was hinted at. The next song, “buzzkill,'' is the other standout of this album. This song sounds a lot more fun than “forever 15,” but if you even somewhat look at the lyrics you can see that this song is incredibly dark, with its focus on revenge. It could have been a much more melancholic experience but I like the way Mothica chose to make the song cathartic. I also quite liked the religious wording she used in the song. There are parts of the song when the beat drops that I can not help but head bang to. Both “buzzkill” and “forever 15” also have amazing music videos that I highly recommend checking out as well.
“funhouse” is an incredibly deep song about not being able to trust the mirror and the artists struggle with body image issues. This song, like the others on the album, has undertones of hope and being able to overcome your struggles. The song also includes the vocal stylings of Kailee Morgue, an artist I am not overly familiar with. Her vocals change up the EP slightly which I like.
“motions,” the next song, is about going through the motions of depression, having a tone which goes well with the theme. The background music of this track in particular I like a lot. I actually feel like this will be the one song I listen to the least on the album simply because it feels a little too real for me.
“intuition” is probably the most fun and lightest song on the album. The song is simply about how you should trust your gut. The song feels like a traditional alternative song with more pronounced guitar and drums and is probably the simplest on the album but I still like it.
The last song on the EP “upside” is probably the most hopeful of the album, which works well as an ending to the EP. It’s about optimistic nihilism and I heavily relate to this song in a way I have not connected to a song in a long time. Musically, the song is also upbeat and it is probably my favorite song on the EP as a whole.
A little bonus to listen to if you like this EP is her cover of Bring me the Horizons “Can You Feel My Heart.” This came out a little before the album, and is a good cover. It manages to change up the original sound but still keeps the deep emotion.
This EP managed to catch lighting in a bottle and I am not exaggerating when I say this is one of the best pieces of music I have ever listened to. I am incredibly excited to see where Mothica goes from here.
“forever fifteen” can be found on most music streaming sites.