Best Ex - 'Someday'

BEST EX (formerly Candy Hearts) have just released new single 'Someday'. Written in an introspective kick after seeing her friend's band play a great show, making her think of the struggle they’d all been through to make something of themselves, singer-songwriter Mariel Loveland called the song “a sort of anthem to the most insecure parts of myself -- the parts that felt like the best I could do was never really good enough.”

The chorus of “someday we’re gonna get it / someday we’re gonna get it right”, with the group vocals, harmonies, and upbeat synths surging and swirling, makes this an anthem for anyone working on getting through all the frustrations of life, and does so with the perfect mix of lo-fi grit and polished glitter. Demonstrating open-book lyricism coupled with dance arrangements, Best Ex is very much a reflection of Mariel’s coming into her own as both a person and musician.

The six-track EP is the first to be released under the band's new moniker and new indie/pop-leaning direction on Alcopop! Records which is out 14th July.

Speaking about the new EP, Mariel says: "Ice Cream Anti Social is sort of an ode to those moments where you're alone in your room and reflecting on your life. As a whole, it covers those sort of thoughts you can't kick when you're lying in bed about to fall asleep, or it's midnight and you're in your underwear, eating ice cream out of the carton, wondering what the heck happened to you."It wavers between that fine line where you aren't sure if you're actually killing it or a total mess. I don't know if this is a true fact about life or anything -- I'm sure those older than me will disagree -- but this EP was largely about coming to terms with the fact that no matter how many people are around you, you will always be sort of alone.” Ice Cream Anti Social is a glistening artistic re-imagination for Mariel, who has taken the heartfelt lyricism and hooks from her previous punk leaning work and brought them into looser, poppier arrangements.

'Girlfriend', the first single released under Best Ex, is more dancey and bass-laden than the Candy Hearts incarnation whilst still telling glittering tales of stolen kisses with delicious summery-pop.

Songs like 'February 4th' and 'See You Again' retain some of the more guitar-involved sound of past work, with the former a softer, string-backed ballad and the latter combining the more electronic-leaning sound of Best Ex with some of the rock influence that many associate with Mariel.

Closing track of the EP 'Jellyfish' fittingly features just Mariel singing over a ukelele, bringing a record that explores a lot of sound and emotion to a close with the most intimate spotlight on the words and music of the songwriter at the heart of it all.

Whilst the name change comes new tracks that sound more produced although still not commercial in that bad sell-out way ... like lovely glittering sugar-pop for the intelligent listener, rather than most of the drivel promoted by the mainstream media, Best Ex have their own kind of rebellion which has evolved along in the same spirit of their earlier songs.