Atlantic Eyes - More Than Surviving

Atlantic Eyes

​More Than Surviving
self-released; 2018

​3.3 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Atlantic Eyes is the solo project for April Raver. This is her first EP entitled More Than Surviving (EP) which contains four original songs. I’ll quote the artist in that, “this album is very heavily inspired by the death of the artist's brother and father figure; this album is essentially the musical diary of a teenager dealing with loss, gender dysphoria and change.”

By all accounts the EP felt like a valiant first attempt for someone who seems to be getting their feet wet both in music and recording. There are some notable melodies throughout the EP but I have to admit that I wanted a little more in terms of technical prowess.

Up first is “Lost in Transition” which is contains a soft lead synth, a beat and a string of power chords. The vocals certainly have their moments but could use a little studio magic that may have helped with higher pitched notes.

On “Nostalgic Heartache” which is quite nostalgic the lyrics are certainly heartfelt and delivered with a lot of passion. “Smells Like Spring Grove” was the highlight in my opinion. It’s dynamic, catchy and had a kinetic energy to it. “You Might Be The One” was also a solid track. It felt theatrical and quite different from anything else on the EP.

As an engineer and music teacher I know there a couple of things that could take the music to the next level. I think it would behoove Raver to try and work with a produce/engineer at some point. Even with lo-fi there are certain things that can be done with tools like EQ and compression that would enhance the fidelity of the music. I also think working with a drummer would be almost indispensable with this type of music.

​Raver has some talent in the songwriting department especially in terms of structure. On top of that I can’t deny the sincerity of the songs themselves.I feel like Raver is just starting out as a musician and the best is yet to come. I wish her luck in her evolution.

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