Transitioning from the digital glow of a YouTube career to the tactile resonance of a recording studio is a path many attempt, but few navigate with the stylistic dexterity of Lilith Gaze. Having built a following online since 2018 and even dipping into the world of ebook authorship, Gaze has spent the last year translating that narrative instinct into a sonic identity. The result is ‘Petrichor & Pixelated Tears’, an EP that functions like a well-curated gallery of 90s nostalgia and modern disillusionment.
The journey begins with the twin pillars of ‘The Fractured City’ and its sequel. Drawing direct inspiration from the cold, industrial beauty of David Bowie’s Berlin trilogy, the opening track is a masterclass in atmospheric restraint. It’s a delicate, instrumental soundscape where floating piano notes mimic the experience of wandering through a hushed European capital. When the record seamlessly transitions into ‘The Fractured City 2’, the serenity remains, but the palette brightens. There is a newfound confidence in the composition, evolving from a solitary walk into a purposeful stride, yet maintaining a calming presence that feels both cinematic and deeply personal.
However, Gaze isn’t content to stay hidden behind the keys. ‘Taste of You’ marks a sharp, thrilling pivot into the world of glossy R&B. It is a vibrant exploration of the playfulness inherent in lesbian dating, dripping with funk energy and a tongue-in-cheek lyrical wit. Hearing the gorgeous, soulful vocals deliver lines like, “My ex was a see you next Tuesday,” provides a refreshing jolt of sincerity and sass that cuts through the preceding instrumental fog.
The EP closes with ‘Plastic Smiles’, an alt-pop gem that returns to organic roots with cascading acoustic guitar chords. Here, Gaze explores the absurdity of social performance and the hollow nature of formal phrasing. It’s a track that starts in a place of quiet vulnerability before erupting into textured bursts of sound and colour, perfectly mirroring the late-90s aesthetic promised by the EP’s title and artwork.
Lilith Gaze has managed to bridge the gap between the pixelated world of content creation and the raw, damp earth of genuine musical expression. ‘Petrichor & Pixelated Tears’ is a bold, genre-fluid new EP that proves Gaze is an artist far more interested in breaking moulds than following algorithms.
You can stream Lilith Gaze’s third EP above, and for more, be sure to join them on YouTube.
