Anaïs & the Hoops’ Debut EP “Growing Pains” Could be The Soundtrack for a Coming-of-age Film
Anaïs & The Hoops’ debut EP, set to release on September 5, beautifully captures the concept of growing up and all that comes with it. Titled Growing Pains, this project encapsulates the plight of the oftentimes harsh realities of growing up, paired with the desperate, nostalgia-driven ache to hold onto the naivety of childhood.
Raised in San Diego but based in Brooklyn, Anaïs Lund is a talented songwriter and jazz vocalist who debuted in 2020. Lund displays an impressive ability to tell stories through her lyrics while blending various genres. Growing Pains itself is a brilliant mixture of indie-pop, jazz, and folk. The project was lovingly created over a three year period between Lund, her bandmates, and producer Ben Coleman.
The project comprises six tracks, beginning with the song You, a track featuring upbeat, pop-like instrumentals paired with Lund’s almost classical jazz vocals. You sets the tone for the EP with the juxtaposition of melancholic lyrics like “Well go ahead and break my heart / Go ahead and tear it apart” against a very optimistic production sound.
The second track, Cool, features a slightly grittier sound, creating a raw and genuine indie-pop vibe. The song ends with a spoken poem written by Lund’s friend Alex Brady.
Track five, titled Blue, has a similar, guitar-heavy production style to Cool. The indie-pop, sometimes rock-leaning instrumentals mesh well with Lund’s mature, classy jazz-style vocals.
Another collaborative effort on this EP is track 3, titled Pass le temps in which Lund showcases soothing-yet-strong, almost lullaby-esque jazz vocals entirely in French. The lyrics were written with Lund’s mother.
On the fourth track titled Stick to the script, Lund earnestly sings about the seemingly unending cycle of self-comparison and negative self thoughts that plague us as we grow up. In the song’s chorus, Lund uses the metaphor of a script in which she is the main character, hoping for the rising action to conclude in a finale that makes it all worth it, perhaps implying that the script in question is the journey of navigating these growing pains and the finale is reaching adulthood.
It’s got me crawling in circles
Of undying self-comparison
Maybe it’s all a part of a plan
Maybe the finale will be better than the rising action
The project’s closer, Growing Pains, ties the EP together. On this track, Lund reminisces about an easier time in life as she adjusts to life and its ever changing nature.
Growing Pains’ lyrics feel nostalgic, making the listener yearn for the things and people we encounter throughout life only for them to become memories.
Lund sings, “Oh god, I miss the growing pains / The endless summer days / And you were just a drive away / But I know when things have to change.”
Overall, the Growing Pains EP is a carefully crafted project with very evident love and care put into it by Lund and each of her collaborators, with my personal favorite tracks are Growing Pains and Stick to the script.
Each song feels genuine and personal to Anaïs & The Hoops, and Lund’s impressive vocal work allows the listener to truly feel and relate to every lyric.
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