Leila Sunier - "Where Everything Is Perfect"
Los Angeles-based songwriter Leila Sunier has a firm grasp on what I like to call maximalist indie-folk. Too often artists fall into the dull trappings of the genre, settling for a watered-down sound that leaves much to be desired. Sunier avoids these pitfalls on her second EP of 2020, Where Everything Is Perfect, instead utilizing her keen ear and songwriting wits to create blossoming arrangements that sound vibrant and immersive. Across its six tracks, Sunier ties together compelling coming of age lyrical themes with bustling instrumentation to create a record that like all great folk music, remains introspective and reflective.
Storytelling plays a critical role on Where Everything Is Perfect, but Sunier keeps the arc vague enough to allow listeners to extrapolate their own narrative. The EP deals with the relatable experience of learning more about yourself in your 20s through late-night, alcohol-fueled socialization and associated attempts to break from the newly established routines of adult life. The singles from the EP, “Sober/Without” and “Everyone,” kick things off by delving into these themes against an ethereal backdrop of glistening riffs.
My favorite track of the bunch is “Supernova,” as it features one of the EP’s standout moments where Sunier uses her sharp instincts to alter the song’s sonic direction in a captivating way. In its final moments, expansive sounding harmonies and guitars give way to a scaled-back, and more confessional sounding vignette, where soft guitar strums are accompanied by the gently delivered, but powerful final lyrics: “And it’s just like that, you look at me like I’m a supernova. Just like him, and go to the same bars locked under the same stars.” Sunier strikes this delicate balance between lo-fi and slick production polish across the entire EP, and it particularly shines on “It’s Subjective” and “Cold Irises,” which both explore the search for meaning in a world of competing ideas amongst strong, enveloping guitars and dynamic percussive elements. “Part of Me,” a raw, slinking ballad, ends the EP with a slow burn, driven by tender down-tempo strumming and direct, affecting vocals.
You can purchase Where Everything Is Perfect via Bandcamp! It’s also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with her by liking her on Facebook and following her on Instagram.
To learn more about Leila, check our interview with her in Episode 149 of the Look At My Records! podcast.
