Fiona-Lee makes the kind of music designed to stop you in your tracks, every word she sings carrying enough weight to make you really think about the point she's making. Across her second EP, 'Every Woman', she tackles a variety of difficult subject matter without sugarcoating the reality that lies behind it, and each of the six tracks feels more vital than the last.
Much like Sam Fender or even CMAT, she spares not a single second nor anyone's feelings when writing about the things we should all be paying attention to. The title-track is built on erratic guitar that intensifies the urgency of Lee's lyrics as she sings about the all too common instances of sexual assault being brushed under the rug and the importance of holding men to account for both their actions and that of those around them.
She slides between energy-filled outpourings and moments of much more stripped-back candidness with the ease of an artist many years into their career. Funnily enough, 'Imposter Syndrome' comes across as her most self-assured track to date. Starting off quite subdued and simple, the lyrics focus on trying to focus on fighting the internal voice that tells you that you aren't good enough, while the melody builds before eventually erupting into something much bigger that feels like a real moment of catharsis. The EP is built on these huge guitar parts that allow Lee to showcase what can happen when women in music are given the same encouragement as their male counterparts.
'Not My Friends' is perhaps the most anthemic of the tracks on offer here; it's catchy but remains intimate and is where Lee's introspective way of writing is at its best. Closer 'Victim' is a world away from the frenetic rock sound of the rest of the EP; her vocals are softer and lighter, combining with a simple acoustic guitar that adds to the melancholy that lies within her words.
Ultimately, 'Every Woman' shows that there is power in vulnerability, while pushing Fiona-Lee that little bit further into the spotlight she is so deserving of.
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