Olivia Mancuso - "Ultraviolet"
Olivia Mancuso describes herself as a “Brooklyn newcomer,” but if you didn’t know that, you’d think she’s a seasoned scene staple after hearing her debut EP, Ultraviolet. On her first batch of songs, Mancuso demonstrates a strong command of synthesizers and electronic production, utilizing her unique skill set to create powerful and eclectic soundscapes that project a range of powerful emotions. This, combined with her firm grasp of sonic texture, allows her to do so much in just a short EP.
“Magnet” opens the four-song collection with a combination of acoustic piano and synths that give the song an almost otherworldly, dream-like presence. The song’s dewy melody receives additional layering from Mancusco’s comforting voice, which dips in and out, maneuvering around its tapping rhythm. The second track, “Double Time,” starts off with a more spacious beat that foreshadows the shift in tone that’s on the horizon, and it’s here where the intricacies really stand out. After two minutes of floaty and freeing instrumentation, Mancuso injects an electric riff that sets off a rapid-fire, skittering breakdown that closes out the song, overlaying it with the spit-fire refrain of “it could be our time.” Mancuso describes the title track, which is slotted nicely in the penultimate spot, as the “energetic center” of the EP. Sure enough, this characterization holds water, as the song cycles through a ton of emotional energy, from the fervently delivered lyrics that describe the “walls closing in” to the gorgeously melancholic string section that serves as its finale. The EP closes with the dense and lullaby-like “Unsung,” which is an airy and light palette cleanser complete with gleaming synths, what sounds like a marimba or xylophone, and more acoustic piano. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Mancuso’s voice, as it’s gorgeous, and she wields and melds it well to suit each track - whether it’s a more defining element on “Unsung” or as a more complementary, blending feature on “Magnet.”
Stream the EP below!
You can purchase Ultraviolet via Bandcamp. The EP is also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with Mancuso by following her on Instagram and liking her on Facebook.
