Over the past few years, a little subgenere of music that I like to call “wholesome singer songwriter” has grown on me. The sad indie girl corner has become a bit overhyped in my view; no one should ever police what genres artists choose to indulge in, but I was starting to get fatigue at the endless hype of this corner of the industry at the expense of others.

“Now Ryan,” you might be saying. “The EP you are reviewing here is literally called ‘sad girl summer.’ How is this any different than what you are ranting about?” Well, it’s a little hard to explain. But it comes down to the over aura of the singer. Tyler’s vocals are strong and steady. Less tentative. She feels approachable in a way that some other songwriters do not.

Tyler’s vocals are always front and center in an EP with traditional arrangements of folk-pop songs. Things are stripped back yet lush all the same. The EP never gets too indulgent. The drawback to this approach is that sometimes some of the arrangements get lost in the background to a passive listener – intentional active listening results in a deeper appreciation for how all the puzzle pieces fit together. “Dream House” is an exemplary expression of this idea; it feels minimalist for much of a song, and brass arrangements seem to almost creep up on you.

Tyler also isn’t afraid to flirt with a bit of attitude. “hell of a friend” and “Drunk Fight” are perhaps the best examples of this. The latter takes on almost a country feel and her vocals seem to be channeling Kacey Musgraves at times. Here, the production really shines as the pounding drums perfectly compliment her assertive vocals.

Overall, the Richmond VA based singer songwriter is unapologetically herself. She doesn’t seem to be interested in crafting a persona. She will win fans one by one, and that’s okay. sad girl summer lays a solid foundation to do just that.

Follow Tyler Meacham on Instagram.