Boston’s Senseless Optimism makes good on her name with new EP It Gets Better...
Boston singer-songwriter Brittany Tsewole (AKA Senseless Optimism) isn’t letting anyone get in her way. Take one listen through her captivating new EP and you’ll agree. It Gets Better is an infectious five-track mantra of positivity and perseverance willed into existence in musical form.
The new EP, released in July, quickly shows that Tsewole is no one-trick pony. While centered in indie pop, It Gets Better incorporates elements of jazz, rock, soul, R&B and psych to make for a positively gargantuan display of versatility and range.
The EP kicks off with “Leave You Behind” – an anthem of acceptance featuring Tsewole’s buttery-smooth vocals supported by horn accompaniment as she bids farewell to a former flame.
“Nothin’ to Me” is a seductive, jazz-rich track about ‘doing you’ no matter what the haters say. Tsewole’s raspy vocals transport us to a dark, smoke-filled lounge where the rich keys and masterful guitar licks will have you saying f*ck what anyone else thinks with a stiff drink in hand.
Dreamy tune “Stay Away” centers around getting lost in fantasy and seeking the validation necessary to pull you back to reality. While still setting boundaries with lines like “You can come and play house / But not like what you’ve done with the other girls / Cause baby I needa feel whole” this organ-rich tune sets itself apart with a level of vulnerability not found in the earlier, more-defiant tracks on the EP.
“Hater” might be one of the most self-aware breakup songs in existence. Acknowledging the anger and bitterness that can come from seeing a former partner move on without you takes a lot of guts, but Tsewole manages to execute it with a level of class and musicality rarely found in songs focused on the same subject.
The final track “Couped Up” is a playful and rollicking track about feeling physically and mentally restless. Featuring a spoken-word section at the 1:40 mark where Tsewole verbalizes her discontent, the song eloquently demonstrates the escape we’ve all been searching for after the past several years.
It Gets Better is a vibrant display of the talent coming from Senseless Optimism, and mirroring the album’s sentiment, it’s clear that it’s only up from here for Tsewole.