dodie - Human

5/5

Dodie Clark, known to her 1.7 million YouTube subscribers as ‘doddleoddle’ made a triumphant return to the world of music with her latest EP Human, following on from 2017’s Summer release You - a record emphatically reminiscent of summer love through title track ‘You’ and ‘Would You Be So Kind’. Human, released on January 18th, is an autobiographical EP presented by Clark through 7 unique songs, detailing all the characteristics that make her human. 

The opening track ‘Arms Unfolding’, a 1 minute 36 second a cappella record, details the song’s protagonist opening themselves up to the idea of a previous relationship “I think I’d like to try look at you / And feel the way I did before”. Debuting this song on her recent US tour in Brooklyn, dodie mentioned how this song is about “my two friends who are learning to fall in love with each other again”. The stripped back nature of the song symbolises the vulnerability of opening yourself up to past wounds and heartbreak; allowing yourself to be open with someone in the hopes that it will reignite a lost spark.

‘Monster’, a more electronically led track in comparison to the more acoustic driven singles, follows on from ‘Arms Unfolding’. ‘Monster’ details the manifestation of someone becoming a monster due to a deterioration in a relationship. In particular the lyrics, “I craft my words to fit your head / ‘cause no one listens to the dead” showcase the protagonist moulding themselves into the person they are perceived to be, rather than the person they are. Whilst this track feels out of place with the other acoustically led tracks, it highlights dodie’s ability to create music that expands beyond the singer-songwriter genre, making it a perfect fit for mainstream radio play.

What stands out about this EP in comparison to previous releases is the addition of features, in particular the addition of fellow YouTuber and singer-songwriter Lewis Watson on 'Not What I Meant' and Indie-Rock and British Breakthrough BRIT nominated artist Tom Walker on title track 'Human'. 

‘Not What I Meant’ was originally uploaded to dodie’s YouTube channel back in January 2018 under the title ‘bitter content’ with YouTuber creator, Dom Fera. ‘Not What I Meant’ acts as a commentary on the platform dodie found her fame, realising the trials and tribulations that come with creating content for a large audience, whilst also commentating on the falseness of the YouTube community. The second verse in particular is incredibly critical of the complex YouTubers often have, whether they are to create the content they are passionate about in order to stay their authentic selves, or do they “follow the damn crowd” in order to gain views, subscribers and ultimately, popularity. Lewis Watson’s feature on this track also cannot be underplayed, the way in which dodie and Watson’s voices blend and harmonise with each other only adds to the vulnerability dodie is showing throughout the EP. 

‘Human’, another song dodie originally uploaded to YouTube alongside Jon Cozart but remastered for the EP, is her fifth most-watched video - amassing a total of 5.7 million views since July 2016. After the single’s release in September 2018, dodie detailed the meaning behind ‘Human’ on her Instagram, stating that when she wrote Human she “was so excited to get to know someone so deeply... but obviously life is complex, and time moves on”. ‘Human’ now serves as a reminder that it is entirely human to want, to love and ultimately to lose. Similarly to ‘Not What I Meant’, Walker’s addition to this track only provides a depth that is lost in the original. The sleek production of this record showcases dodie’s leap from YouTuber to gracefully navigating the music industry. 

For the record, dodie has remastered her song ‘She’, an LGBTQ+ anthem which details the emotions she feels dealing with having a crush on a girl who does not feel the same. The lyrics deal with the stigma LGBTQ+ people often feel when exploring their sexuality out of heteronormative ideals, but ultimately demonstrate how these feelings are only natural, “Could it be wrong / When she’s just so nice to look at?”. Whilst production on this song feels sleeker and more mature than the original uploaded in 2014, there are comparatively subtle differences between both the new and the old. Additions of pizzicato on the string instruments underneath the acoustic guitar driving the song add warmth, but ultimately vaguely reminiscent of an 18 year old dodie openly discussing her sexuality with her growing YouTube audience. 

Perhaps one of the best tracks on the EP, ‘If I’m Being Honest’ details the immature idea of presenting all of your best bits in order to impress someone, but hiding the insecurities they feel underneath. The chorus openly and honestly asks “Could you love this? / Will this one be right? / Well, if I’m being honest / I’m hoping it might”, questioning whether the person likes the fascade she has created for herself, and asking if they are the right person for her if they did. A concept later explored in verse two, “But I have a hunch that’s all you wanted from me” is dodie’s realisation that perhaps the person only liked the attention she was giving them, rather than actually liking her. This changes the tone of the song, with dodie confessing that she’s “used to being a joke” - an emotion that feels all too familiar. 

The final track on the EP is titled ‘Burned Out’, a song in which dodie constantly goes through the motions of pessimism and optimism. Pessimism due to the fear she cannot live up to the pedestal she has been put on by her fans and admirers, and optimism because she finds herself in those who look up to her, “Thousands and thousands of eyes just like mine / Aching to find who they are”. On social media, dodie is open about her mental health, including her TMS therapy she attended back in 2017, however she begs fans not to look up to her for guidance or advice on how to handle their mental health problems in the outro of the song, “Don’t build hope on something broken”. 

This record demonstrate why dodie is a cut above the rest when it comes to musicians that have formed their foundations on YouTube, a topic often discussed and criticised by the wider YouTube community. With YouTube stars such as Gabbie Hanna and Backpack Kid recording their own Genius videos discussing the deeper meaning behind their music, and ultimately giving the label ‘YouTube Musician’ a bad name, it is refreshing to have dodie pioneer the transition between YouTube to record label. The Human EP is a emphatic success for dodie, showcasing the most versatile of her musical talents on ‘Monster’, to complete vulnerability on ‘If I’m Being Honest’. Each song constitutes a different side to dodie’s personality, and without a doubt, this is her most authentic release to date.

Dodie plays Vicar Street, Dublin on March 17th and 18th, with limited tickets available only for March 17th. Stream and Download ‘Human’. Subscribe to dodie here. 

jess Lawrence