Faerie, otherwise known as Christine Lam, is a self-taught musician from the Big Apple (New York). Where many good things begin, Lam eased her way into the music scene by posting covers on YouTube. After a taste of success, she honed into her songwriting during college as a way to express the ups and downs of her teen era.
Faerie’s latest sophomore EP, dizzy spells, contains five tracks of bittersweet feelings tucked into the whirlwind of adolescence. “virgo sun” and “showgirl” are both reminiscent of early Lana Del Rey, which definitely brings listeners back to the mid-2010’s. Faerie’s seductive vocals backed by nostalgic guitars and basslines give the EP those captivating melodic textures. She has that beautiful mix of indie, folk, and dream pop that is just so addicting.
In a press release, Faerie said this EP allowed her to experiment with her unique sound and reflect on personal stories she wanted to share, which was encouraged by her producer Matty Bedrosian. Sultry lyricism are weaved through soft indie accents that encapsulate young loving and tender emotion.
The first track, “virgo sun” has already gained over 15k listens since the drop in late February and was featured on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Indie. Faerie complements layers of harmonies rising to a crescendo in an outburst brought upon by her stream of consciousness. Her wandering mind reflects the high energy of the song, sometimes even overpowering Faerie’s vocals, but in organized chaos.
Standout lyrics: “When did you dye your hair red? // When did you change your name?”
An earlier single, “k-town,” gives me the impression of escaping uncertainties in a drunken haze underneath the city lights. Groovy basslines and hard-hitting leads carry listeners into a spellbound dream. The cycle of games between two lovers in front of a poppy backdrop makes me want to run away and dance until I’m numb.
Standout lyrics: “No hard feelings // I can’t feel it”
One of the two previously unreleased, “cheapest hotel room,” uncovers a darker and more alluring range with lush synths and psychedelic influences. Distractions and temporary love are sung in seductive lyrics like, “Trace your shadow down my thighs // Desert sins to waste the night” that, to me, resembles Lorde. Although just under two minutes, this is the perfect midpoint for the EP.
“showgirl” follows the sensuality of the previous track with Faerie’s slow siren vocals (as if holding deep eye contact). The way she lingers in each verse gives gravity to her words and shines light on her musical theater background. We really get a taste of what is beyond the black and white of Faerie’s past.
Standout lyrics: “Left a letter under your pillow // Lipstick signature, too”
The last track, “champagne tears” rounds out the EP in a lighter tempo of horns and fluttering acoustics. Beneath bubbly smooth melodies lie a melancholic atmosphere of how exhausting love can be. There’s a juxtaposing element not only in the title, but the abstractness of jazzy instrumentals and downtrodden lyricism.
Standout lyrics: “Greetings from a daydream // My maraschino cherry sweet”
Faerie has mastered the ability to seamlessly jump from genre to genre — rules don’t apply here. She enchants all of us with faerie dust through her EP which can be found on Spotify:
rachel liu
As a girl in her twenty-somethings, Rachel enjoys the creative fantasies of writing and listening to music. She began her journey in the digital music space as a writer for blogs under Laura’s playlists and is continuing under Daybreak.
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