Rising star Solène Laurence releases debut EP '17 Tall'

There’s a fresh, captivating sound emerging from Cork, and it belongs to 18-year-old singer-songwriter Solène Laurence. Her debut EP, 17 Tall, which just dropped this past Friday, is a stunning introduction to an artist who I have only recently discovered and who is another example of Irelands exciting musical future. To put it simply up front: this EP is a gorgeously raw, emotional listen by a vocal talent that will genuinely stop you dead in your tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDOReJaRip8SU&v=OReJaRip8SU

This was actually my first time listening to Solène, and the EP's opening track, "Who The Hell Are You," makes for quite the introduction. The very first time I hit play, her voice completely caught me off guard. I don't know what I was expecting, but I just wasn't expecting this. The level of depth, texture, and uniqueness right out of the gate. It’s a beautifully slow-winding track, accompanied by a lovely instrumental and drums that subtly shift the tempo just enough to keep you hooked as her voice leaves you at a loss for words. It is a sound that is well beyond this young singer-songwriter's years.

That gorgeous pacing continues naturally into "Waiting for it," which features some beautiful picking guitar and a slow build that turns it into what is probably the catchiest song on the entire project. The chorus builds so brilliantly and halfway through there's this deliberate slow down / pause where you aren't quite sure where the track is going to go, it could easily just end there or drop into a massive tempo shift. Instead, Solène pulls back a bit. Her voice becomes incredibly soft, deliberate, and intense before ramping right back up. This one is an example of some brilliant songwriting.

However, the title track, "17 Tall," is the one I found myself coming back to the most after a few listens. Clocking in at just over four minutes, it’s the longest track on the EP, and the lyrics here are just exceptional. The instrumental is kept beautifully basic, which is the absolute perfect choice because it leaves the entire floor open for Solène's voice to shine. You can really sense the incredible control she has over her vocal range while completely laying her emotions bare, navigating the quiet devastation of feeling used by someone who is "only around when she's not." I can only imagine how spellbinding it would be to experience this track live in a quiet, intimate room.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDGBd7CHKxo8Q&v=GBd7CHKxo8Q

Rounding out the EP is her debut single, "Punch Line," which has already racked up over 16,500 plays since it was released back in January. It’s a brilliant closer that purposefully stands out from the rest of the project by being that little bit faster, feistier, and heavier than the other three. It may be the first release from the EP but it is also the perfect closer. As Solène says, the track leans into "folky guitar riffs and country-inspired rhythms" that give the EP a surge of energy right at the finish line.

Overall, 17 Tall is an incredible debut from a young artist who has clearly been writing and observing relationships since childhood. She manages to take some deeply personal moments and make them feel entirely relatable to the listener. Considering she only released her debut single a few months ago and sold out her first headliner just a month later, Solène is already making some well deserved waves in the Irish music scene. There is undoubtedly so much more to come from her, and I wish her the absolute best of luck in what promises to be a very bright future. You can keep up to date with Solène by following her on Instagram at solenelhalligon