EP Review: A Big Deal To Me

At just 19 years old, Frankie Venter has already established herself as New Zealand music’s resident cool girl. Her debut EP A Big Deal To Me feels like proof that even this early in her career, she’s already found a sound that is unmistakably her own. And yet what makes this release even more exciting is the feeling that she’s only getting started. If this is what Frankie’s first EP sounds like, it’s hard not to imagine the kind of career she’s already paving for herself as she continues to experiment and push the edges of her sound.

The EP opens with Turn Me Down is full of arpeggios that weave through the entire song, that almost feel like they’re being passed between instruments as the track goes on. With a spacier, more atmospheric feeling than some of her earlier work, it’s clear we’ve stepped into a new era of Frankie Venter. That space also pushes her unique vocal tone to really take centre stage. The first chorus blooms in with support of some stunning strings. Subtle electronic production quietly manipulates both vocals and instruments – bringing to mind the likes of modern pop artists who’ve paved the way, like Lorde’s recent Virgin. The whole song is a slow, carefully constructed build, with new layers slipping in almost unnoticed until the final moments when the vocals drop away and it’s just the instrumental left – leaving you to realise just how intricate and layered the track actually is.

Hint – the EP’s most recent single – flips the mood immediately. Driven by a groovy bass line and playful chords, it’s cheeky, catchy and full of personality. Frankie’s storytelling is at its sharpest here, especially in lyrics like “Arm around my shoulder got me shaking / Doesn’t know we’re playing for the same team / He’s so oblivious / Tryna get me to go home with him.” The melodic walkdown on “He don’t know me like I know him” might honestly be my favourite moment of the entire track. It’s one of those tiny musical details that ends up being the most satisfying part of the song.

She’s Leaving feels distinctly “Frankie Venter” while still fitting comfortably into this new sonic chapter – taking turns you don’t quite expect. It feels fresh and unpredictable. Its hook is instantly catchy, and the instrumental breakdown towards the end is especially fun – a reminder that Frankie’s music never takes itself too seriously even when the songwriting cuts deep. How You Like Me Now takes me straight back to when it first came out in 2024, long before we even knew an EP was on the way. Listening to it now immediately drags me back to my first year of uni: getting ready in shoebox-sized dorm rooms, catching the bus on the way to a night out, music blasting while we tried to decide what to wear. Songs have a funny way of attaching themselves to memories, and this single was definitely one that didn’t let you go.

Just Want You Here was an instant favourite for me the first time I heard it – not even on streaming, but live at Frankie’s Tuning Fork show in Auckland last year when it was still unreleased, in a room packed with fangirls in jorts, sports jerseys, glitter and bright colours. Hearing the studio version now is so cool because you can hear how the track has evolved while still holding onto the magic it had onstage. The arpeggios floating through the background are one of my favourite details, adding a sense of movement underneath the song. Lyrically, it’s a love song, but one that reflects the realities of Frankie’s hectic life as an emerging artist – or let’s be real, an already-emerged artist – and the feeling of missing her girlfriend while she’s away. Lines like “I can lean onto your shoulder / And we’re only getting older / This front row seat’s getting colder” once again reveal one of Frankie’s biggest strengths: pairing specific, personal stories with playful melodies that get stuck in your head immediately.

Selfish is another track many listeners will instantly recognise. At one point last year it felt like it completely took over my Instagram Reels feed. But Frankie has proven she’s much more than just a viral moment or one-hit wonder. If anything, her ability to consistently create songs that people connect with so strongly online says a lot about both her songwriting and her relationship with her audience. Watching her career unfold over the past few years has been especially cool because it’s not just her music that’s grown – her fanbase has evolved alongside her too, and we’re not just talking numbers-wise. Selfish opens with light drums and a simple guitar line, proving that sometimes the most effective pop songs are the simplest ones. At its heart, it’s a yearning love song. I can literally picture it in the soundtrack of some guilty pleasure high school rom-com (the best kind). Lyrics like “The rumours I love you / Maybe they’re all true… I don’t wanna see you with anyone else now / Baby excuse me / But I can’t help it / I want you all to myself” landed this track straight in my delusional Spotify playlists.

Paris brings yet another side of Frankie’s sound into the mix. Sonically it feels closer to some of her earlier releases, which actually works really well within the context of the EP and shows just how much range she has as a songwriter. The percussion immediately pushes the track forward while plucked strings flicker in the background. Before long it explodes into one of Frankie’s signature catchy choruses. She has a real talent for building contrast between verses and choruses while still keeping the story cohesive – not just within individual songs but across the entire project.

A Big Deal To Me closes with Real To Me, which begins with stripping everything back to just acoustic guitar and Frankie’s voice. After the colourful, energetic journey of the earlier tracks, it feels like the perfect way to end the project. The lyric “And the thing that you got off your chest was my heart” is easily one of my favourites on the EP. As the song unfolds, subtle instrumental layers begin to appear; soft strings, gentle backing vocals and one sound that almost resembles a pulsing heartbeat. None of it ever overshadows Frankie’s voice though. The bridge, though short, hits hard. It’s angry and nostalgic and sad and reflective all at once. It doesn’t just sound like the diary entry of a heartbroken teenage girl – it somehow makes you feel like your high school situationship is breaking up with you all over again.

On the surface, A Big Deal To Me is a fun, colourful pop EP, bursting with sass and emotion and personality. But beneath that are subtle production layers and thoughtful musical details that reveal just how intentional the entire project is. Every track feels carefully crafted, which makes it even more exciting to imagine how Frankie will bring these songs to life on stage.

For a debut EP, it’s an incredibly confident statement. And if this project proves anything, it’s that Frankie Venter already knows exactly what she’s doing. The coolest part? This is only the beginning.