POPPY RELEASES VIBRANT EP ‘THE COST OF GIVING UP’ AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING LP 'NEGATIVE SPACES'
Photo: Sam Cannon
Metal ingenue Poppy has shapeshifted many times over throughout her career. Her humble beginnings as a quirky egirl caricature has transformed tenfold, allowing her to take up far more space in the music industry graciously. Respectfully, I believe she has always deserved these accolades. It was through finally finding her footing in metal that she was given the chance to soar abundantly. Her EP ‘the cost of living’ promises a creatively adventurous LP, ‘Negative Spaces.’ This defiant depiction of artistic prowess deserves praise beyond measure. Poppy’s skillset is so broad that competitors should be intimidated by her, though that is not her goal. Instead, she is finally free to do what she wants—without the demands of influential people who command her, dictating her creative process. At first, many were slightly reserved regarding Poppy’s switch to metal. Now, though, she’s a seasoned pro; this LP might be her magnum opus, a brilliant transcendence into superstardom that she has always deserved.
The title track opens the EP on a fascinating note. Current Poppy tends to lean more traditionally metal, but this track leans more nu-metal and even gothic in certain elements. It’s her Linkin Park “Numb” moment. There’s bold production with robust guitar playing, a solid vocal mix, and a high-budget sound overall. She does best when she has all the tools to articulate her meticulous creative vision. Poppy is not interested in quick gains, as she likely wouldn’t have transitioned to metal if that were the case. It is far more likely that she finds respite in metal’s darker elements, allowing her screams (which have improved tenfold) to tell stories with deeper meanings and more intention. The title track of the EP is meant to encapsulate the energy of the rest of the record.
“crystallized” leans even more gothic, with 80’s synthesizers guiding the track. Everyone raised on New Order and Depeche Mode is having their moment. Thankfully, the renaissance of this era is far more forgiving, as these sounds are wonderful existing on a heavy metal record. The evolution of music over time is deeply fascinating as a more prominent topic, and Poppy indicates this phenomenon. She isn’t afraid to take risks, and if she is…nobody can tell. Once again, the power that she feels is felt through my earbuds. This softer moment allows Poppy to convey her more poetic lyricism with a heavier emphasis. It’s easy to mask excellent lines through screams.
That said, “They’re all around us” is my favorite track from the EP. Poppy has made many head-turning choices in her career, but the death metal first verse in this song is incredible, pure artistry. A double-bass drum kicks (ba dum tssss) things off, rebuking any “poser” allegations Poppy may face. She is the real deal, living and breathing metal like the rest of us. Her repackaging the genre with a different aesthetic value is liberating for audiences, too. It’s freeing to see yourself in the art you consume—just as it is freeing to reveal yourself in the art that you make.
Closing with “new way out” furthers my theory that this LP will be more nu-metal adjacent than any of Poppy’s other work, and frankly, I’m excited. One of her older metal songs played on shuffle immediately after this one. I was immediately taken aback by how significantly she has grown within the past few years. Ultimately, an artist’s confidence is what makes or breaks them. It seems that Poppy is truly independent now (record label status notwithstanding), and she can consider herself an artist the way she always wanted to. I’ve been supporting Poppy’s work since her pop music egirl schtick, but it’s incredible to see her as a human and artist instead.
If this EP indicates the full LP, we are all in for a real treat with Negative Spaces. Poppy has shed blood, sweat, and tears to earn those gritty screams. Her perseverance alone is admirable enough for me to purchase a copy of every record she releases.