HomeEF CountryLauren Jenkins - 'Miles On Me, Part 1' EP review

Lauren Jenkins – ‘Miles On Me, Part 1’ EP review

Singer-songwriter Lauren Jenkins has always proven herself to be a visionary when it comes to her music. Rather than just releasing music, she envisages every project she does as a complete audio-visual package and her bold debut ā€˜No Saintā€™, accompanied by a short film, was proof that sheā€™s not your average artist. Released via Big Machine, who sheā€™d been signed to for years prior to the albumā€™s arrival, ā€˜No Saintā€™ launched Jenkins to a global market and gave her a foothold on the live music scene here in the UK. In a surprising move, Big Machine dropped Jenkins and after taking some time to find a path forward, Jenkins decided to go it alone as an independent artist.

Her first body of work to be released is ā€˜Miles On Me, Part 1ā€™ EP, the first of a three-part EP that progresses her story from the songs we heard on ā€˜No Saintā€™. Marrying the desire for a streaming audience to get regular music with her usual visionary approach, Jenkins continues to be one of the most innovative and exciting artists in Country music with this three-part project. Comprising four songs, with a run time of 14 minutes in total, ā€˜Miles On Me, Part 1ā€™ showcases Jenkinsā€™ growth as an artist and celebrates her new-found freedom as an independent artist.

If you loved ā€˜No Saintā€™, youā€™ll love these songs even more. ā€˜Like You Found Meā€™, the EP opener and the projectā€™s lead single, is a jangly guitar-led track that ups the tempo and finds Jenkins taking comfort in who she is. Her lyrics are honest and stark, as she asks a potential new lover to be careful with her heart. Jenkins sounds free and happy, and the song is the perfect way to kick things off. Second track ā€˜Sheā€™s a Starā€™ is the first sign of Jenkinsā€™ sound beginning to evolve. A bluesier undertone runs through the track as Jenkins sings in a more hushed tone. The end result is a seductive song thatā€™s unlike anything weā€™ve heard from Jenkins before.

The EPā€™s highlight is ā€˜Miles On Meā€™ featuring David Ramirez. One of the EPā€™s more vulnerable moments, the acoustic-led ballad combines Jenkins and Ramirezā€™s voices beautifully. The instrumentation on the track builds to a crescendo with crashing drums and guitars, stepping closer to rock territory than weā€™ve heard before. Closing track ā€˜My Own Advice, references Jenkinsā€™ ā€˜Give Up The Ghostā€™ and features some of the most honest lyrics weā€™ve heard from her as she reflects on her inability to take her own advice and stop repeating mistakes.

With ā€˜Miles On Me, Part 1ā€™ Lauren Jenkins shows that sheā€™s happy to be operating in her own lane. This is a confident and bold collection of songs that perfectly builds on ā€˜No Saintā€™ but offers something fresh and new. With two more parts to go, Iā€™m already keen to hear what else she has up her sleeve, and knowing Jenkins like I do sheā€™ll have plenty of surprises in store.

Lauren Jenkins - Miles On Me, Part 1 EP
Credit: Lauren Jenkins

Track listing: 1. Like You Found Me 2. Sheā€™s a Star 3. Miles on Me (feat. David Ramirez) 4. My Own Advice Released by: Lauren Jenkins Release date: 9th July 2021 Buy ā€˜Miles On Me, Part 1ā€™ now

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Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of PiƱata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

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