Written by Emily Lutz
Eraste is the alt-pop solo project of Texas-based artist Ariha Vaquera. 2021 is truly shaping up to be her year as she releases her debut EP titled “crashing every party.”
When asked how to describe the project, Vaquera said, “The album goes on a journey through genres highlighting everything from synth-filled dance tracks, to a plucked banjo and 808s, to vocoder hooks and trap drums. I pushed myself to do what was uncomfortable, to do anything and everything I believed I was capable of.”
The EP starts out with “crashing every party.” The first lyric “You can never really know me / Cause I don’t really know me” sets the tone for everything to come.
In the chorus, Eraste talks about just trying to blend in and the fear of being openly yourself, highlighted in the lines, “All of my life I've been in the middle / Blurring the lines so I don’t have to apologize.” The entire song discusses guilt and pain while confronting trauma, along with the feeling of being a stranger to oneself.
Next up is “wtgtdwm?” which features Clover the Girl. This is definitely the “hype song” of the EP.
The chorus' lyrics “I’m sorry about your issues / Tripping like it’s LSD / Hate me if you want to / What’s that got to do with me?” is a solid statement to everyone who feels like they know you, when you know that they really don't. This song is super fun and bound to be on repeat for months to come; be sure to check out the music video for this track too!
“right back where you want me” describes a relationship where you just can’t stay away. You remember that everything used to be good, so you run back to them until you’re reminded why you left in the first place.
The line “I forget it was broken till I come back” captures this feeling perfectly. The best way to describe this track is “groovy pop.”
“jealous” gives us a catchy beat and lyrics that are bound to get stuck in your head. The verses are sweet yet chaotic in the best way.
The chorus' lyrics “Forget myself / Like there’s no one else / I wish I could not be jealous” show how we can be affected by the people our significant other used to be in a relationship with, no matter how long ago it was. This song is a conversation with yourself, battling between the feeling of wanting to be the only one this person has ever loved, but needing to come to terms with the fact that it will never be like that.
The EP closes out with “forbidden love.” This track has seemed to become the fan favorite and it’s easy to see why; this is a song I could totally see being on the radio.
It explores being with someone you really shouldn’t be with, but you can’t help yourself. The verses are strong, the chorus is catchy, and the production feels like the icing on the cake.
Overall, this EP is bound to be the next staple pop piece in all of your playlists. The artist herself says it best; “Each song is exceedingly different, yet, they all bode the same question: how long can we pretend?”
“crashing every party” is available anywhere you stream music. You can keep up with Eraste and everything she’s sure to accomplish in the future by following her on Twitter @_eraste. We’d love to know your thoughts on this great EP by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!
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