WILLIE J HEALEY EXPLORES AN EXPOSED ENERGY IN HIS SIXTH EP
Willie J Healey | Credit: AJ Stark
EP REVIEW | WILLIE J HEALEY – 143 by Morgan Hermiston
Three years since the release of his third album, Bunny, Oxfordshire singer-songwriter Willie J Healey returns with arguably one of his most raw revelations to date. 143 is his sixth EP, and the five-track production is precise, poetic and poignant. Healey himself described this as “a collection of recordings pulled from different recording sessions” and “a compilation of my favourites“. This latest release is a mixtape of methodical melancholy.
‘Ditch‘ and ‘S’all Good‘ are the first two tracks on 143, and also the first two singles. Both have a minimalistic, easy-listening feel. ‘Ditch‘ has a divine way of drawing you into the beginning of the EP, with the simple instrumentals masking clever, and at times almost tongue-in-cheek, connotations and lyrics. ‘S’all Good‘ follows this flow, with an in-depth introduction into the voicing of vulnerability. “I’m sick and tired of acting tough” is a lyric that underlines this.
The title track ‘143‘ introduces a slightly more Bob Dylan-esque dynamic at times with its talkative tones. This concept carries on into the EP’s final track too. The third song continues an exploration of an energy that exposes Healey in a more vulnerable light. It seems to seek notions that can afford you more joy, even if it were things that others deem simple or easier to acquire. He sings, “if I could be anything, I would be in your arms“.
‘True Misery‘ is my favourite, primarily because I feel it pushes a vision of the vocals soaring through a packed out venue or space. It is simple yet truly striking in the imagery it portrays: “been searching for meaning, the goodness in small things, but time is never on my side“. It is a beautiful track that further infuses Healey’s sensitive songwriting style adopted in this body of work.
Honing in on this vulnerability one more time, ‘Bottle Rocket‘ closes off the EP with a realisation spurred on by reflections. Healey vocalises the lines, “I know a good thing when I see one, heaven isn’t real it’s just a feeling“. It appears to discuss the idea of living in the moment, as cliché as that may be. However, the idea of being present, and the ability to push that, comes from past experiences and observations. It’s a lovely end to a sober set of songs.
143 is a little pocket of pensiveness that still manages to uplift. When I say words like “melancholy” to describe this EP, I mean to explain it as an emotional and expansive exploration of different moods. With lyrics and melody changes that can spark and provoke listeners to search for insight into their own mind, Healey’s penmanship is poetic. His raw yet equally refreshing approach to topics and mindsets has created a cohesive catalogue of tracks that allow vulnerability to be vibrant, and not hidden. I will absolutely be listening to this when I need a step back from the full-on days that life throws at us all.
You can listen to Willie J Healey’s latest EP 143, which is out now. If you’d like to hear his vivid vocals come to life, you’ve got multiple opportunities to catch him live in the UK in October, with tickets on sale here.
