The Top 5 Best EPS Of The Year (So Far)
- Sinead Cochrane
- Jun 16, 2025
- 4 min read
GOOD WOMAN - KAT PENKIN
Release date: 18th April 2025
Genre: Alt-pop
For fans of: Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Remi Wolf
In her sophomore EP, Kat Penkin welcomes listeners to a world of Abba-esque pop. On the front, this EP is light and fun but as the lyrics reveal themselves it becomes a space of complex womanhood.
Good Woman, takes the listener on a journey of womanhood and love, expressing how the two are intricately intertwined. Each song is an independent tale, woven together through confident vocals, synths, and pulsing percussion. It is the perfect balance of sarcastic pop and intimate storytelling.
Penkins fights the idea of the modern woman and what it means to be a good woman. She questions whether this is something women should strive for and if it is worth giving up oneself for love and societal gain.
Good Woman allows Penkins' songwriting talents to shine through. She delivers hard-hitting narratives over modernised 70s melodies. Keeping a balance of seriousness and fun. Her ability to capture the rough nature of love and life as a woman in clever and witty lyrics is what shines through this EP.
If you are looking to fall in love or for female support, Good Woman has all areas covered. It is an exciting time to become a Kat Penkin fan as she is on track to become the UK’s next pop Princess.
LIMINAL SPACE - THE REDROOM
Release date: 31st March 2025
Genre: Indie
For fans of: Bleachers, Blossoms, Declan McKenna
Liminal Space is where 70s disco meets modern indie-blues. This debut EP is full of infectious melodies, rich vocals, and jazzy guitar riffs. Best enjoyed in 20-degree weather with an ice-cold pint or a packed hazy room, let The Redroom take control for 16 minutes.
Instantly, you are encouraged to dance by the enticing beats of the opening track, ‘The Fear’. Written by lead singer Jess Lewis-Ward, this infectious tune tells the tale of 21st-century dating and the results of a messy night out. It's a relatable track set to a disco-esque production. As the EP progresses, the band takes a moment to showcase their talent in the ‘Liminal Space’ interlude.
When listening to this EP you feel safe to relax as The Redroom take you on a sonic journey for the senses. It sounds like a project by a seasoned band that spent decades crafting their sound. Not a 6-year-old band introducing the world to their debut project.
A bright future awaits this northern 5-piece. A future of sold-out arenas, headline festival slots, and critical acclaim. They are a hidden gem waiting to be found.
SLEEPING ON IT - ESSENCE MARTINS
Release date: 4th April 2025
Genre: Indie-folk
For fans of: Olivia Dean, Maggie Rogers, Hozier
If you are in need of soft magical sounds then Sleeping On It by Essence Martins is the perfect choice. With stunning melodies and ethereal vocals, you are transported to a world of magic and nature. This sophomore EP has set a strong foundation for Essence Martins future.
Through this 20-minute EP, Martins grapples with modern dating, social media, and contemporary expectations. Drawing on the importance of self-trust and growth in a busy digital age. Each track represents the difficulties of trying to be a real person despite the internet noise. At its core, Sleeping On It, is a deeply personal and vulnerable body of work.
Martins tells her story of growing up amidst a pandemic, parental expectations, and societal opinions. Through its soft sounds, she pours her heart out, capturing the fear of growing up and becoming your own person.
Sleeping On It is a guide to growing up in a noisy world. It is serene and light but also honest and vulnerable. This EP reminds us to take life one step at a time and to shut out any negative outside noise.
THE EDGE OF OKAY - ANGEL ADDO
Release date: 10th January 2025
Genre: Indie-pop
For fans of: Rachel Chinouriri, Mazzy Star, Lola Young
The Edge Of Okay welcomes listeners to a world of noughties movie montages, making it the perfect soundtrack for that main character moment. Paired with Angel Addos’ uniquely addictive vocals, this EP will leave you wanting more from this rising indie rockstar.
It is an alluring and dreamy body of work that combines elements of post-punk and early noughties sound to create a nostalgic tapestry. Addo leans into genre fluidity to capture her angst and raw emotion. She brings together the fun of an Avril Lavigne track with a sprinkle of Rachel Chinouriri, creating an honest but entertaining body of work.
‘Do It Again’ will keep drawing you back to this EP. With solid drum beats and addictive guitar riffs to accompany her echoing vocals, it's a festival-ready track. Addo is not scared to dig into a darker sound. On ‘Bleach’, she shows off her lyrical capability as she draws on her personal experiences of growing up in this current society.
The Edge Of Okay is a perfect introduction to Angel Addos’ world and one that you will want to stay in forever. It’s what has been missing from the indie world.
HEARTBREAK ERA - HOLLY NICHOLSON
Release date: 23rd April 2025
Genre: Indie-pop
For fans of: Taylor Swift, Maisie Peters, Olivia Rodrgio
Heartbreak Era is essential listening for anyone in their early 20s. It is a tale of love, loss, and growing up. It shows the importance of choosing yourself and even reveals the secret to a healed heart. Each track represents a stage of grief and is a journey of healing after that first heartbreak.
Full of hope, sadness, and nostalgia, this EP will see you through the darkest times and be the light at the end of the tunnel. Heartbreak Era acts like an in-house therapist who is there 24/7. It is a detailed account of losing love in your twenties and slowly rebuilding life in its wake.
From the indie-rock anger anthem ‘Hell’ to the pop hopeful anthem of ‘Teenage Dream’, there is a song for every emotion. Heartbreak Era shows how, through the power of self and platonic love, you can become a better, happier person. It shows that heartbreak is essential to evolving into your truest self.
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