Words by: Jack Humphrey

Violette’s long debut EP When I Lose My Head scratched the surface of her diaristic approach to writing, as well as her sonic pallet of alternative/synth-pop leaning elements. One year later, her second EP In her beauty lies my death and my life definitely explores a new dimension to her artistic personality. In contrast, it’s a touch more vulnerable and little more subdued, giving Violette more room to let her lyrics shine over the attitude and bombast that highlighted much of her debut EP. Sure, there are fun, spirited moments here too, but getting to see a few new sides to the budding alt-pop artist is doubtless a huge high point of this release. On the inspiration and themes surrounding the EP, Violette shared:

“When I started working on In her beauty lies my death and my life, I really thought about it as a period film – I wanted it to be romantic and almost shallow upon first glance or listen, but the things I’m writing about are really dark and real. I wanted the title to reflect that feeling, too. In her beauty lies my death and my life, both the title and the music, are a big statement to me: this is who I am and what I’m about.”

Mixing together a synth-heavy groove with rock-infused guitar elements throughout, the EP’s opening track “Stop” extends an eager invitation to a new lover to take their new relationship to the next level — while trepidatiously assuring the other party that she’ll understand if they can’t take that leap. Overall, it’s a catchy introduction to the new era in Violette’s career and the wide-reaching span of influences In her beauty lies my death and my life incorporates.

The momentum definitely doesn’t stop as the Baltimore singer-songwriter rolls into the pitch-shifting alt-pop banger “Let Me Down.” The phaser-heavy guitar riffs take center stage amidst a skittering electronic rhythm section. A cold, frustrated take on love, Violette offers up her disheartening feelings on a relationship she gave her best to that was doomed to fail from the start. The cut is fresh and danceable from start to finish and fits nicely into Violette’s growing catalog of vibey synth-pop jams.

Following the EP’s eponymous interlude “En sa beauté gît ma mort et ma vie” [the French translation of the record’s title], things take a more downtempo turn with the slow-burning examination of the conflicted, messy feelings that falling in deep with someone evoke. She reflects on how her lover in question fills her obsessions and on one level, there’s a sort of toxic co-dependence between them, yet the deeper emotional connection that’s bloomed through their push-and-pull love affair. They test one another and challenge each other’s tolerance, but in the end, it’s too good to give up.

Closing out In her beauty lies my death and my life, the moody ballad “Mine” expands on that reckless, obsessive relationship that Violette shares with her lover. In this passionately anthemic profession, she celebrates the fact that she has found someone who she feels such a deep and significant bond with. The song itself radiates with big electronic drums and a perhaps the best guitar fills that this EP has to offer, welcoming listeners into this evocative, lovesick new phase in Violette’s ongoing saga.

Overall, this short yet expressive EP represents a big moment of growth in the fledging synth-pop creative’s career.  In her beauty lies my death and my life is sonically cohesive and exceptionally tight in its overarching narrative. The title itself rings true pretty well throughout, as we keep coming back to this idea of feeling excited and revitalized by this relationship while still experiencing so much needless frustration and emotional burden at the same time. It’s a compelling dichotomy that Violette expresses with sensitivity and conviction throughout this release.

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