QR Music Review: SOAK - Everybody Loves You

Derry-born singer-songwriter SOAK has returned from her sabbatical. One of the most prolific young artists in the country, SOAKs newest single 'Everybody Loves You' is a melancholy tale of hopeless love. Emotive and refined, SOAK pulled out the stops for her first release in two years. By drawing on modern pop and soul music, SOAK sounds much like herself, but more: a fuller, more mature sound, flanked by incremental changes the make all the difference. From the fuller pitch to the backing vocals and an addition of strings, Everybody Loves You has the same raw vulnerability of her first album but with a razor sharp sophistication.

Dreamy thought the composition may be, the story in 'Everybody' is one of pain. SOAK does her best to convince herself she is immune (“I was built from concrete…”) but ultimately her efforts end in vain (“I been getting no sleep…”). The restrained pull matches the level-headed delivery of the lyrics which only seems to emphasise the story through their juxtaposition. The titular line is crooned out with an operatic resignation, reminiscent of The Carpenters.

That said,  there is more to this song than just open emotion ("I'm a fucking livewire...") as it is also critical of gender expectations and the misogyny contained within. SOAK is a constant self-critic throughout, but resists being cast as a martyr. Instead, she remains stoically resigned - and yet, while SOAK retains damage, her counterpart remains untouched ("Everybody wants you...").

A siren song for the broken-hearted, the resigned sadness of 'Everybody Loves You' is twistedly gratifying. SOAK hasn’t missed a beat.

By Benjamin Magee