‘LIKE A LITTLE CUP OF DOPAMINE’ BEETLEBUG CAPTURES SOMETHING SPECIAL IN DEBUT EP

EP REVIEW | BEETLEBUG – all ash is snow

Beetlebug is definitely onto something special with her debut EP, all ash is snow. It’s one of those records that feels like a cosy cardi on a crisp autumn day—perfectly capturing the shifting moods that come with each season. The six tracks flow beautifully from the cozy vibes of autumn to the introspective chill of winter, and then there’s that refreshing sense of new life as spring rolls in.

Featuring earlier singles ’embers’, scarecrow’, ‘equinox’, ‘until the end’ and ‘summerspring’ the EP saves one more treat for listeners with title track ‘all ash is now snow’. A gentle lullaby coming in just less than 80 seconds long, the track perfectly captures the essence of the EP’s wider concept. With soft melodies and tender lyrics, listeners might find themselves reflecting on their own experiences with change—how moments can be both heartbreaking and breathtaking all at once.

Each track is just as spellbinding than the last. I can still remember the first time I heard recent single ‘equinox’ when it fell into my inbox. It captured a sense of lull that I so desperately needed to feel. The haunting beauty within Beetlebug’s soft vocal tones melted towards the raw ambient backdrop. Like a little cup of dopamine, it still hits everytime.

Writing and producing the EP independently, all ash is now snow is testament to her creative vision. In her words, the EP reflects a mix of nostalgia and hope, encouraging listeners to embrace change rather than resist it:

‘all ash is snow’ is a collection of songs that is held together by cycles, while feeling like one turn of the page in and of itself. I began conceiving this project during lockdown and though it has evolved and moulded into different shapes over time, the inevitability of time passing and things ending has always been a strong part of this project. While holding frustration and a wistfulness towards things that were or could have been, this EP for me is largely hopeful. Change has always felt particularly overwhelming to me, but this project felt like growing towards accepting that nothing will ever remain as before, and rather than clinging desperately to the familiar, looking back fondly while embracing what is yet to come”.

This early introduction to the world of Beetlebug is a treat to the soul and will be one I’m sure I will continue to fall back on when I need that little dose of dopamine again. A exceptionally promising debut.