LIZMNK SHOWS NO SIGNS OF STOPPING WITH HER NEW REFLECTIVE ACOUSTIC EP

24 hours ago

Building on her fantastic EP released in the summer of last year, Message From Above (Live Acoustic) continues lizmnk’s diverse set of soundscapes balanced with masterful spoken word elements.

Let me set this straight first: to call this EP just an acoustic reworking of Message From Above is quite a disservice to this body of work. The Oculate team absolutely loved her debut EP from last year, describing it as “An exquisite first project entry for a rising artist with huge potential.” This sophomore effort continues this winning streak, building on the topics and nuanced genre-hopping of her debut project, while effortlessly standing on its own two feet.

Starting things off strong is the rendition of spoken word opener ‘Where life started, ended and met (Live)’ which is made even more mesmerising by its live backing vocals interspersed with the natural soundbites found in the original. As an artist who is clearly no stranger to live sets, selling out her debut EP release party alongside shows at Cafe Koko and Soho House, the song is translated beautifully into this live version. It also showcases her sharp musical prowess with focused performance art.

Lizmnk writes and sings with intent. With tracks like ‘Message From Above (Acoustic)’ and ‘Just Desserts (Acoustic)’ she ponders societal problems as well as the mantra of feeling what you want to be seen as in the larger world at hand. On the latter, she croons

about the trauma from religious upbringings and the formative importance of life’s trials. All while, just having such a captivating voice.

The highlight on this 4-Track powerhouse is its closing track: ‘The Human Condition’. A completely new offering on display which again just proves how effortlessly lizmnk can bounce from sultry vocals into soul-touching poetry while never missing a trick. Her storytelling is masterful, and I wish for this to carry her to even loftier heights. Being released at the very start of the new year, this track feels like a mantra for accepting the beauty in being human, and utilising the hurdles of humanity as a platform for growth. “I’m learning to love myself more, and it feels less like a chore. My grey skies are finally blue.”

Take a listen to the EP below and let it grow with you throughout 2025.

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