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Home / Waikato News / Lifestyle

Music review: Hailee Steinfeld, HAIZ

Kim Gillespie
Kim Gillespie
Editor: NZME Community Publications Network·NZME. regionals·
16 Jan, 2016 05:00 PMQuick Read

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Actress Hailee Steinfeld joined in the vocal gymnastics in the capella-singing movie Pitch Perfect 2, so it's not too much of a stretch to see her kicking off a pop career.

HAIZ is Steinfeld's debut release, an EP with four tracks including the single Love Myself (a companion piece to Justin Bieber's Love Yourself?), a dance-pop anthem to self-powerment and/or teenage activities.

Lyrics aside, its shouty backing vocals recall the Naked & Famous song Young Blood, or various cheerleader chants from Taylor Swift and Avril Lavigne songs, while the breathy verses are more Selena Gomez territory.

Hell Nos and Headphones is equally catchy, and also speaks to the young and disaffected, with sad lyrics about partying, drugs, alcohol and isolation. It is a more fun song that it sounds (and also addresses self-empowerment), but perhaps the track Rock Bottom is more uplifting ("We're on the right side of rock bottom ... We're on the good side of bad karma cause we keep on coming back for more.)

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And to be fair this EP should have pop fans coming back for more, as Steinfeld's debut album looms.

3.5/5 stars

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