The “Reflections” EP is a new album by EZB --a good friend of mine-- released in August of 2023. EZB is an alternative rap artist with influences of indie-rock music. Consisting of seven songs—“Lost Souls”, “Electric”, “Insecure”, “Home?”, “Hope”, and “Lifeline”--this album allowed him to be open about his mental state and his recent emotions. EZB wants others to know that they aren’t alone and someone else feels similar to how they are feeling.
Tracklist
“Lost Souls” is a very mellow and calming song. It reminds me of songs like “I’m Not Human” by XXXTENTACION or “Light Shower” by Melanie Martinez with the acoustic aspects of the songs and the feelings they give you. I find this song very nostalgic, and it’s perfect for calm or rainy days. I personally think EZB is explaining that he doesn’t know who he is completely at the moment or that he’s lost in his mind. He could also be referencing someone he’s close to or loves, as he constantly uses “we” within the lyrics and switches between the lyrics “do you think I’m special?” and “I think you’re special”, which can signify the questioning of yourself and your purpose. Overall, it’s a beautiful song that can be interpreted in multiple ways. “Lost Souls” is perfect for late night drives, studying, or if you just want to give yourself a break. The vibe is very zen-like and often drifts you off into a whole other world. The song puts you in a trance-like state allowing you to lose yourself.
“Hope” is another song in the EP. Contrasting “Lost Souls,” it’s more upbeat, but has deep lyrics when you listen to it more. EZB has different flows and melodies within the song, making it a nice adventure as you listen. The beat of the song has an indie feel while adding to the elements of his style of alternative rap. This song represents the ups and downs of hoping to feel better about what’s pulling you away from happiness. Whether it’s your mental health that's disorienting you, or This reminds me of the mind of an overthinker (being one myself). Each different lyric from the hook to the chorus follows a different emotion of trying to get through a difficult situation in your life. EZB then goes into questioning whether things will truly get better and questions what will happen if he allows this hope to fade away.
“Electric” is the third song on the line up. Similar to “Hope” with an upbeat sound, “Electric” speaks about music and how it heals someone’s mind. In this piece, he introduces the song in a form of speaking towards the audience or even himself. He introduces himself a little and the things he’s experienced or felt. Connecting his chorus to the lyric “but it's alright, I'll be fine if I listen to Lucid Dreams just one more time,” he alludes to the artist Juice WRLD, who has similar style to him, and his popular song. This connects the chorus all together as music cures a lot of emotions, and it's able to bring you back to better places in your life; music is continuously holding on to you, making sure you don’t fall staying afloat. EZB includes another music reference: “Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee. This second mention of a popular song further reinforces the overall meaning of the song: music will hold you close and give you the comfort you needed when you were oblivious to hurt, and it’s always carried in your soul. Overall, this song is very uplifting and relatable, especially for me, making you dance but also letting you know how much music helps you: ”Music is electrical, you can feel it in your soul, it can touch you and never let go, it'll take you back to the old days." .
Diving further into the album, we transition to the track “Insecure”. In this song, EZB develops the ups and downs we go through. As humans, we often become insecure and self conscious about us and what those around us think. The constant overthinking we do, causing insecurities of our looks or personalities, is expressed as the “brain-train”. It drives us crazy. No matter what we do to get rid of the feeling, it is uncontrollable and a part of the world we live in. When we gain these insecurities, we can never see ourselves the same and ponder every little thing we say or do. Insecurities make society become conscious. We become unsure about the relationships with the people we interact with on a day to day basis. He expresses these ideas heavily in the chorus and in the second verse, as he’s “scared of judging eyes peering in.” EZB is able to convey what the majority thinks, principally as we grow older and go through more stages of trial and error.
Moving forward, we get to the track “Home?” as the artist expresses his feelings of not knowing his place in the world. He speaks his thoughts aloud before breaking into the chorus once more, similarly to “Electric”. He talks about how no one in life is thinking about what is making you happy or sad and overall is not thinking about you as a person. EZB conveys his thoughts on how no one truly understands him and that others only have a basic idea of what he’s like. Those around him create a mirage of him and deem that to be his true persona, yet many of these people haven’t taken the time to get to know him under all the layers. He indicates that he knows he doesn’t understand where “home” is for him, who he belongs to, or where he belongs. No one realizes his cries for help and for someone to guide him to where he truly should be. Just like many of us, he struggles to comprehend the path he’s supposed to take and hopes that someone will take the time to truly know him and guide him to the place where he belongs.
The final song of this lineup is “Lifeline”. It has more hip-hop influence than alternative or indie, but there are still small elements such as the guitar in the instrumental. To me certain parts of this song are a blur in its meaning. However, when going into his first verse, he begins with “take a second, take a second. I’m reflecting on the days when I had a best friend.” Hearing these first few words shoots back to the whole meaning of the album. Based on how the album is aligned, “Lifeline” could be examining the full thoughts of EZB after the first five songs. EZB could have finally found his “Lifeline” or his purpose after the time of insecurities, hoping, coping, wandering, and questioning within himself and his spirit. The song is more upbeat, but it still has some melancholic undertones in his lyrics. He’s still finding his way but has found a path; he continues to be in his head but feels more direction. Although he’s not completely sure of himself yet, he has more confidence in this song than his other five tracks. EZB finds himself climbing his way out of the depths of his mind becoming the one he wants to be.
“Hope” is another song in the EP. Contrasting “Lost Souls,” it’s more upbeat, but has deep lyrics when you listen to it more. EZB has different flows and melodies within the song, making it a nice adventure as you listen. The beat of the song has an indie feel while adding to the elements of his style of alternative rap. This song represents the ups and downs of hoping to feel better about what’s pulling you away from happiness. Whether it’s your mental health that's disorienting you, or This reminds me of the mind of an overthinker (being one myself). Each different lyric from the hook to the chorus follows a different emotion of trying to get through a difficult situation in your life. EZB then goes into questioning whether things will truly get better and questions what will happen if he allows this hope to fade away.
“Electric” is the third song on the line up. Similar to “Hope” with an upbeat sound, “Electric” speaks about music and how it heals someone’s mind. In this piece, he introduces the song in a form of speaking towards the audience or even himself. He introduces himself a little and the things he’s experienced or felt. Connecting his chorus to the lyric “but it's alright, I'll be fine if I listen to Lucid Dreams just one more time,” he alludes to the artist Juice WRLD, who has similar style to him, and his popular song. This connects the chorus all together as music cures a lot of emotions, and it's able to bring you back to better places in your life; music is continuously holding on to you, making sure you don’t fall staying afloat. EZB includes another music reference: “Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee. This second mention of a popular song further reinforces the overall meaning of the song: music will hold you close and give you the comfort you needed when you were oblivious to hurt, and it’s always carried in your soul. Overall, this song is very uplifting and relatable, especially for me, making you dance but also letting you know how much music helps you: ”Music is electrical, you can feel it in your soul, it can touch you and never let go, it'll take you back to the old days." .
Diving further into the album, we transition to the track “Insecure”. In this song, EZB develops the ups and downs we go through. As humans, we often become insecure and self conscious about us and what those around us think. The constant overthinking we do, causing insecurities of our looks or personalities, is expressed as the “brain-train”. It drives us crazy. No matter what we do to get rid of the feeling, it is uncontrollable and a part of the world we live in. When we gain these insecurities, we can never see ourselves the same and ponder every little thing we say or do. Insecurities make society become conscious. We become unsure about the relationships with the people we interact with on a day to day basis. He expresses these ideas heavily in the chorus and in the second verse, as he’s “scared of judging eyes peering in.” EZB is able to convey what the majority thinks, principally as we grow older and go through more stages of trial and error.
Moving forward, we get to the track “Home?” as the artist expresses his feelings of not knowing his place in the world. He speaks his thoughts aloud before breaking into the chorus once more, similarly to “Electric”. He talks about how no one in life is thinking about what is making you happy or sad and overall is not thinking about you as a person. EZB conveys his thoughts on how no one truly understands him and that others only have a basic idea of what he’s like. Those around him create a mirage of him and deem that to be his true persona, yet many of these people haven’t taken the time to get to know him under all the layers. He indicates that he knows he doesn’t understand where “home” is for him, who he belongs to, or where he belongs. No one realizes his cries for help and for someone to guide him to where he truly should be. Just like many of us, he struggles to comprehend the path he’s supposed to take and hopes that someone will take the time to truly know him and guide him to the place where he belongs.
The final song of this lineup is “Lifeline”. It has more hip-hop influence than alternative or indie, but there are still small elements such as the guitar in the instrumental. To me certain parts of this song are a blur in its meaning. However, when going into his first verse, he begins with “take a second, take a second. I’m reflecting on the days when I had a best friend.” Hearing these first few words shoots back to the whole meaning of the album. Based on how the album is aligned, “Lifeline” could be examining the full thoughts of EZB after the first five songs. EZB could have finally found his “Lifeline” or his purpose after the time of insecurities, hoping, coping, wandering, and questioning within himself and his spirit. The song is more upbeat, but it still has some melancholic undertones in his lyrics. He’s still finding his way but has found a path; he continues to be in his head but feels more direction. Although he’s not completely sure of himself yet, he has more confidence in this song than his other five tracks. EZB finds himself climbing his way out of the depths of his mind becoming the one he wants to be.
Altogether, EZB’s album “Reflections” allows teenagers or anyone going through the ups and downs of self-identity and self-direction. At first the songs seem to be energetic and unexpecting; however, listening to the lyrics intently unravels a new understanding of the album. The artist enables himself to be vulnerable to his audience, creating an unsuspecting bond between him and his listeners. Reflections isn’t the only album he’s made: he has more works such as his album “E” and singles such as “wedding ring,” “cry for help,” “different,” “Gelato freestyle,” “movie man” and more. His music is a great listen and you can find his music on spotify, soundcloud, apple music, and youtube.
Enasha Speller
