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Photo: Jade DeRose

Are we stuck in a simulation? Is it normal to feel? Are we all as human as each other? The topics YDE tackles in her debut EP SEND HELP are not your typical fare for multi-talented entertainers, especially in their first substantive work. What makes the project even more weighty, is its deeply nuanced pop orchestration, which brings the lyrical content to light, even if contrasting it in tone and tenor. That weightlessness partially stems from the legacy credentials of her co-writers, such as Justin Tranter and Caroline Pennell, but it evidently is a part of who YDE is, a vessel for world themes and old soul capabilities.

Born Breanna in Australia to Filipino parents but raised for much of her life in LA, YDE has an old Hollywood skillset that riddles the listener or viewer with her charms birthed from the creative ether that saw her landing significant roles in television, film, and musicals. And wow did those skills come to fruition in SEND HELP, a saucy affair that is equal parts riveting, subtle, and complex.

SEND HELP starts and ends with some heady intro and outro contemplation. "How did we get here," questions YDE as imposing cinematic flair set the stage for the theatrical continuity of the EP to unfold. "Where’s The Fun in Truth" makes way for a moment of deep discomfort, ironic or not over a bellowing show tune composition with a punchy decaying guitar chorus that feels so longing that it sounds like a plea for intrigue. "Normal to Feel" begins as a much more subdued track, with seeking lyrics placed over a quick picking guitar progression that builds with some fast cadence pre-choruses before launching into a reaching open-ended question of a chorus. "Uncomfortable" mirrors the prior track, hinting at subdued Nashville singer-songwriter vibes before trampolining into a much bolder, contemplative pop song.

After a short interlude, "Old Her" a standout single off the EP, pops with a strolling baseline and rhythm bounce, allowing YDE to stretch her vocals over the punchy backdrop. "People Can Change" is a true call to action, arguably the genus for the EP title, a sweet effort over a string section that pulls and plucks lyrically as well. "Never Too Young" has a pent-up energy and cadence that feels more akin to traditional youthful pop fare but lyrically is compositional correct with the larger adult themes present in everything that came before it. As the outro rings, one question is answered wholeheartedly, YDE is a talent to be watched closely.

Listen to SEND HELP below: