summer (섬머) : Dawn Always Comes

The last time I listened to summer was her single “Re;birth.” But looking at her discography, I’m surprised that she’s never released a full length. Dawn Always Comes is her third EP. Her 2021 debut includes many singles along with the two previous EPs. I’m curious what’s limiting a longer release.

It’s possible that summer is more comfortable with smaller releases. Dawn Always Comes is six songs, which for some musicians, is enough to designate a full length. summer’s folk, indie rock, and melancholy style is familiar and comforting. “Unconcealable” starts with a simple folk start that grows after the introduction. The song features guitar and bass, but no percussion.

“Heart and Words” is the natural expansion of “Unconcealable.” Adding a drum kit with the guitar and bass gives summer’s style more structure. Vocals sounds like they sit above the instrumentals but can also weave into the melodies. During the song, it feels like summer is straining to let go of some conserved energy, but holds back.

The third song, “Frequent,” keeps the core composition style with an expanded tone. summer’s vocals feel like the guide this time instead of the instrumentals leading. And the vocals give off more presence this time. Songs on Dawn Always Come sound like advanced versions of acoustic tracks. Like in a live, summer would perform with a guitar or a small backing band. So I feel like the added effects and filters are good for the album but can hide the core of each track.

“lloveyou” is a simple sounding, complex arrangement. And I kind of want to hear the demo because it sounds like the song relies on these added effects a little too much. I also think summer falls into a repetitive space. Each song can sound distinct separately. But Dawn Always Comes sounds a bit too much of the same thing. “Heart and Words” added something new and then the EP went back.

I may have answered my own question about why summer doesn’t have a full length. It could be the music is best heard in singles instead of longer releases. There’s a lot to appreciate with each song but the overall mood feels stagnant. I don’t need “Lucky” levels here, just more variety.