EP Review: The Loneliest

The Loneliest marks the heartfelt debut EP from 38 Skies Above, a Wellington/Porirua-based duo composed of Chelle and Martyn. Though shrouded in some mystery, the pair have clearly been honing their craft over several years. Their musical partnership, rooted in friendship and creative chemistry, has culminated in a concise but emotionally rich four-track project that offers an evocative blend of folk-pop, soft rock, and musical theatre stylings.

At first listen, it’s evident that Chelle and Martyn are less concerned with trends and more focused on telling earnest stories through melody, harmony, and lyrical sincerity. While the EP is modest in length, it brims with emotional resonance, gentle instrumentation, and a timeless quality that gives the songs a kind of graceful stillness – as though each track exists in its own quiet world, that wouldn’t be out of place in a Disney movie.

Opening with Letting Go, the EP begins on an almost cinematic note. The song is introduced with a clear, expressive vocal that instantly commands attention. The lyric “Standing out on the balcony looking at the sea, blue skies, warm air surrounding me” evokes a sense of calm and introspection, like a snapshot of a memory suspended in time. There’s a musical theatrically to both the composition and delivery that hints at Chelle and Martyn’s possible background in musical theatre – think a more stripped-down, acoustic version of a Disney ballad.

The vocals are complemented by minimalistic but effective instrumentation, allowing the song’s emotional arc to take centre stage. Backing harmonies swell gently in the chorus, enriching the track with warmth and texture. Letting Go explores the emotional complexity of moving forward after heartbreak or personal transformation. There’s no melodrama here – just honest emotion and a genuine attempt to make peace with the past. It’s a vulnerable and moving introduction to the duo’s sonic world.

The EP’s title track, The Loneliest, continues in the same spirit of openness and emotional depth. As the name suggests, the song explores themes of solitude, grief, and the quiet ache of missing someone or something. The arrangement is delicate, built around soft piano chords and subtle acoustic textures, letting the lyrics speak for themselves.

Vocally, the harmonies shine again – rich and reminiscent of early 90s groups like Wilson Phillips, The Corrs, or even Fleetwood Mac’s gentler moments. There’s a beautiful contrast between vulnerability and control in the vocals, with moments that feel almost like a whisper shared between close friends. It’s a song that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable – one of the emotional high points of the EP.

Green and Blue shifts the tone slightly, bringing in the glow of romantic longing. It’s a simple, piano-led love ballad with poetic lyrics and a gentle, floating melody that draws the listener in. The colour imagery in the title and lyrics evokes themes of nature, connection, and emotional harmony. The title might also serve as a metaphor for the blending of two people or emotions – green and blue coming together to create a richer palette.

There’s an intimacy to this track that suggests it might have been written late at night, in a quiet room, with only the piano for company. Yet despite its softness, the song never feels overly sentimental. Chelle and Martyn display a maturity in their writing – they know how to tug on the heartstrings without resorting to cliché or overwrought drama.

The final track, Winter, closes the EP on a contemplative note. Where Letting Go and Green and Blue felt like snapshots of warmth and light, Winter is more grounded in introspection and the passage of time. The song serves as a tribute to the season – not just in the literal sense, but also metaphorically, exploring themes of hibernation, emotional retreat, and the longing for renewal.

It’s perhaps the most instrumentally textured piece on the EP, featuring layered harmonies, soft ambient effects, and a subtly complex drum pattern that adds rhythm without overpowering the vocals. The chorus carries a quiet, haunting beauty, suggesting that even in the coldest seasons of life, there is room for grace and growth.

What makes The Loneliest stand out is its sincerity. There’s no artifice or overproduction here – just two musicians making music from the heart. The production is intentionally understated, allowing the duo’s voices and lyrics to remain front and centre. In a world often dominated by loud, overproduced pop tracks, 38 Skies Above offer something more introspective, more reflective – like a handwritten letter in a world of text messages.

For a debut EP, The Loneliest is a strong statement of intent. It’s tender, vulnerable, and beautifully crafted – a quiet gem that suggests a promising road ahead for 38 Skies Above. Whether they continue down the path of folk-pop balladry or explore fuller arrangements in future releases, there’s no doubt they’ve established a solid foundation here.