It is hard to believe that Oxis, the marine-based electronic singer/songwriter/producer, only started her series of self-titled releases three years ago. Her music reaches a level of intimacy and vulnerable storytelling that makes listening to it feel like a chat with an old, prophetic friend, someone you never forget but can never pin down for too long. All this, despite her production percolating with alien-like textures derived from nimble drum patterns and palpable ambiance. Oxis’s pop-tinted, experimental approach has been stretched out across seven projects so far, and the next installment is finally here.
Oxis 8, the latest addition to the multi-hyphenate’s beloved album series, is another quick yet potent and fun exploration into the limits of Oxis’s singular sound. The artist is a rare case in contemporary music in that she came out of the gate with a sonic terrain she can explore on her own, carving a lane in a burgeoning indie pop scene that leads directly to her beloved ocean. Being part of this small group of young musicians with a unique sound comes with its ups and downs; expectations are set without the artist’s consent, and fans begin to pigeonhole them. While Oxis 8 may not be the moment the artist breaks the mold she created for herself, it is far from a carbon copy of the first seven installments. The eight-song album comes and goes in the blink of an eye, but sticks to the sides of your brain, begging to be replayed and explored deeper.
Clocking in at just over twenty minutes, this tracklist packs an emotional, raw punch of self-analysis and cathartic releases. While the Oxis blueprint remains intact, there are nuanced changes that effectively distinguish Oxis 8 from its predecessors. Moments like the sample-heavy “Fluke,” with its breathy vocal performance and pulsating percussion, give the artist’s typically spacious electronics a psychedelic twist. At the same time, a lead single like “Fry” showcases a new side of Oxis’s pop prowess with a simplistic, radio-ready anthem.
Lyrically, Oxis is opening up more than ever. Highlights like the somber “Dogfish,” with its warping, warm drum patterns, explore the heartbreak of drifting apart from someone who promised never to leave, while “Fingerling” sways at the mercy of the breezy vocals, as the artist explores the concept of escapism. While the production on Oxis 8 remains minimalist, the artist’s lyrics do anything but, proving that the young musician is still maturing. That maturity shines brightly throughout this LP without sacrificing the signature Oxis sound, especially during moments like the slow-burning “Onco.”
Oxis is one of the more exciting additions to indie pop in recent memory, and her latest release delicately balances expectations with artistic growth.
