Auckland pop singer Navvy recently rounded off her trio of albums with the Final Pieces EP, which is full of her universally relatable lyrics and upbeat instrumentals.
The trilogy, beginning in 2019 with the release of The Breakup EP, followed by No Hard Feelings in early 2020, chronicles her personal journey and allows listeners to gain a glimpse into her recent years, as she explores the complexity of conflicting emotions. Unlike her other releases, it bounces between themes, instead of presenting a single cohesive narrative throughout.
“I Learnt to Lose a Friend so Young” hits home for anyone who has suffered grief, capturing how loss feels like being cast adrift in an unfamiliar landscape. With the addition of Thomston for “Running In My Sleep” and “Somebody Else” the tracks transition seamlessly from discussing mental exhaustion to reminding that you can’t be there for everyone.
The EP rounds off with titular “Pieces,” a euphoric moment of rejoicing in moving on. It provides a fitting end to this chapter, and is the ideal track to dance with friends to.
As for what Navvy wants listeners to take away from The Final Pieces? In a recent interview she explained she just wants those who experience her work to feel ‘whatever they feel.’ The EP certainly does just that, as with her raw honest vocals, it is hard to stay unemotional throughout, but by the end, you’re as content as Navvy herself has become.
8.5/10: Gotta love narrative arcs in music – Taylor Swift who?