Sister. get real on ‘Something / Nothing’ EP
Sister. combine haunting vocals with themes of identity and relationships on their latest EP
Photo: Jon Merlino
Warning: upon your first listen to Sister.’s new EP Something / Nothing, expect an alarming amount of goosebumps and a deep tugging sensation from somewhere deep inside your chest, unearthing some inexplicable emotion you weren’t previously aware you were capable of feeling.
This EP is proof that sometimes simplicity is the most effective route to take, the driving force of each track being the shiver-inducing vocal harmonies and a trusty acoustic guitar. It begins with Hideaway, an intimate track that delves into the topic of self-identity in relationships. Underlying the lyrics is a sense of uncertainty and tentativeness, emphasised through the contrast in lines such as “Can I just be like I am when I’m with you?” and “I don’t know who I’ll be in your arms”. These contradictions contribute to the impression that the purpose of the narrator’s “hideaway” is to shield herself from reality, while lines like “if I show you my body, can you read its lies?” suggest that her idealistic concept of this safe haven isn’t entirely realistic.
The second track, Girl, continues the theme of questioning one’s identity by exploring the concept of self-evolution and other people’s perception thereof. The poignancy of the line “If you know me this way, will you know me any other way?” can only be overshadowed by the sad sense of futility behind the lines “most of my days I don’t know if its Monday / If its Monday, what’s the point of that?”. I get the impression that the narrator is documenting their struggle with change, before finally processing their transformation with the closing line: “I am different now”.
Fighter, the third track, sets itself apart from the others with the inclusion of a guitar solo, which takes the place of a bridge and somehow seems to say more than words ever could. If you picture yourself taking a dramatic walk in the rain after a break-up, you might get an idea of how this solo sounds. It’s the kind of music that could easily make me start crying on the spot if it caught me in a sufficiently sensitive mood.
The EP closes with Something, a melancholic glimpse into a relationship that favours a kind of blissful and ignorant fantasy over reality. The song can be summed up in the line “We both have a thing for pretending”. Like many other lines on the EP, this caught me off guard with the effectiveness of such a simple sentiment.
This really is where Sister.’s talents lie. In the development of something simple into something beautiful and moving. The band’s evolution from two college roommates into masterful musicians is proof of this. If you’re in the mood to feel a whole lot of things, or you’re just in need of some peaceful music to send you off to sleep, there will certainly be something for you in Something / Nothing.
