8/10

With her sophomore EP 'Garden of Edie', Boorloo/Perth artist EDIE delivers the kind of release that feels like a genuine turning point. Confident, adventurous, and packed with personality, this four-track EP sees her stepping beyond the indie-pop foundations of her earlier work and embracing a darker, more electronic world that suits her remarkably well.

What immediately stands out is how fearless the project feels. Here, EDIE dives headfirst into themes of temptation, uncertainty, heartbreak, and personal growth, creating a collection that captures the emotional chaos of navigating your twenties. It is raw and reflective, but equally empowering, balancing vulnerability with an exciting sense of self-belief.

Opening track 'Fall Of Man' sets the tone beautifully. Driven by pulsing electronics and shadowy synth textures, the song explores the frustration of watching someone refuse to help themselves. The production simmers with tension, pulling us into the EP’s darker atmosphere from the very first moments.

Elsewhere, 'Burning' offers one of the collection’s most emotionally affecting highlights. Blending elements of EDIE’s alternative and indie-pop roots with a more expansive palette, the track captures the painful moment when a relationship can no longer be saved. There is a genuine emotional weight here, but the song never loses its melodic appeal.

The EP truly comes alive with 'Chemical', a swirling electronic rush that perfectly captures obsessive thinking and emotional overload. Layered synths, hypnotic rhythms, and inventive vocal treatments combine to create one of the EP’s most immersive moments. It's the sound of an artist pushing her creative boundaries and discovering exciting new possibilities in the process.

But the closing title-track is the EP’s crowning achievement. Dark, seductive, and irresistibly atmospheric, it embraces temptation and self-liberation with complete confidence. The production feels cinematic and club-ready, while EDIE’s performance radiates a newfound sense of artistic freedom.

Across just four tracks, EDIE presents a fully realised artistic statement that feels both cohesive and ambitious. 'Garden of Edie' is the sound of an artist embracing change, and the results are captivating. Darker, bolder, and more confident than ever, EDIE has crafted an EP that demands attention and firmly establishes her as one of Australia’s most exciting emerging electronic-pop talents.