“Amber Eyez” by Eve Minor strikes a much different sound than songs I have reviewed in previous weeks, coming in with an interesting mix of R&B, Hip-Hop, and punk undertones. “Amber Eyez” is an engaging listening experience, mainly due to the unpredictability of the beat–there is simply a lot going on.
The beat centers around two main elements: vapid percussion and light electric piano/synth overtones. The percussion is sparse, and it jumps around, accenting the lyrical performance with perfunctory snare hits. The piano textures the track, and builds underneath the lyrics and gives pace to the song, moving it from verse to chorus and back to verse. I also really enjoyed how the bridge was so distinct from the rest of the song. The bridge has these punching, warm chords that feel almost refreshing after going through the whole track without any sort of melody. The contrast between melody and lack of melody is a strong point of “Amber Eyez” in my opinion.
The lyrics center on the theme of longing, but also a theme of trepidation in the face of new emotional attachment. The spoken word lines of the bridge encapsulate the lyrical message of the song. Lines like “Tell me you love me first, I’m afraid if I tell you first you’re going to think it’s a game,” give a feeling of longing, but also a feeling of fear at rejection. “Amber Eyez” really shines in the space between desire and fear, and the lyrical performance enhances the already established feeling of the lyrics. The vocals are warm, but have crisp, cool autotuned undertones, giving more contradiction to the track.
“Amber Eyez” fits in with other tracks in the Eve Minor repertoire. Eve Minor’s other music centers heavily in the metal/screamo influenced sound, and while “Amber Eyez” lacks the pulsing aggression of tracks like “Red, Red, Red” from early 2020, there are still remnants of that “screamo” vocal style. Eve Minor, in an interview with GENRE IS DEAD! Magazine explained further her own personal musical style, stating that she “grew up as a punk and metalhead primarily” and “played in death metal and street punk bands” in her younger years. In addition, according to the GENRE IS DEAD! Article, Eve Minor expanded on her songwriting style. Eve Minor stated: “My love songs are typically me not being able to tell someone how I feel for whatever reason and it comes out artistically because that’s the only way I can communicate effectively.” Summer 2021’s track “Amber Eyez” perfectly fits into the Eve Minor love song formula.
“Amber Eyez,” from Eve Minor is an interesting, ambient listen. The song would be perfect for chilling with friends, or for helping get through an intense break up. The duality of “Amber Eyez” is its strength, and I am looking forward to hearing more from the New York based artist.
