WHOLESOME EVIL FANTASY

Ashley Sudeta

After listening to Indigo De Souza’s discography in preparation for her October 12 show, I figured I could guess what “WHOLESOME EVIL FANTASY” would sound like. I figured wrong. De Souza’s surprise EP differs tremendously from their previous work. The three new tracks, appropriately titled “WHOLESOME,” “EVIL,” and “FANTASY,” showcase a poppier, electronic sound, in contrast to De Souza’s prior indie rock work. Further establishing divergence, the cover art is a photo featuring three versions of De Souza in different costumes. De Souza’s three full albums have all used paintings of naked skull people as cover art.

Even among these differences, what I found most striking was the lyrical simplicity of the EP. Each song takes an idea and lays it flat, refusing to over-complicate things. The lyrics are repetitive, echoing feelings often felt during different types of relationships. “WHOLESOME” celebrates the joy of an established relationship, “EVIL” captures the feelings of unfairness that arise in a one-sided relationship, and “FANTASY” explores the confusing, fuzzy line between friendship and romance.

In an Instagram post, De Souza described how “WHOLESOME EVIL FANTASY” came from the “dumbest, goofiest, most brazen place” and was made with a strong sense of playfulness. This was apparent from the beginning of the first track—it’s meant to be a fun EP! De Souza took a risk by putting out such a different sound, and I’m glad she did. It’s refreshing to see an artist go in a different direction because they want to, instead of for the sake of following trends. I don’t expect every Indigo De Souza fan to like “WHOLESOME EVIL FANTASY,” but it would be wrong if they didn’t at least give it a shot.