Emerging Irish solo artist Taylor D wastes little time making her intentions clear on “Obsession.” Built around an instantly recognisable guitar hook and a chorus designed to lodge itself firmly in your head, the track disguises emotional turmoil beneath three minutes of irresistibly polished pop-rock.
The single features on Taylor’s forthcoming second EP, Bad Decisions, which is released on 2nd October. The EP also brings together all three of her previous singles: Fake Illusion, Survive and Goodbye alongside new material, marking the next step in the 20-year-old artist’s rapidly developing sound. (Taylor will be 21 on EP release, a pretty awesome present to give to yourself!)
“This EP feels like the real beginning of who I am as an artist. Turning 21 and releasing it on the same day feels incredibly symbolic. I’ve grown so much since I started making music, and these songs reflect where I am now , more confident, more honest and completely unafraid to say what I mean”
Taylor D on the release of her new EP
There is an immediate energy to the arrangement. Punchy guitars provide the backbone while the drums keep everything moving with a confident mid-tempo drive, allowing the song to feel urgent without ever becoming overcrowded. The verses initially hold something back, giving Taylor’s vocal room to tell the story, before the track expands as it hits the chorus.
That chorus is where “Obsession” really takes hold. Taylor’s vocal becomes bigger and more forceful as she admits, “you’re my worst obsession,” turning the song’s central contradiction into its biggest hook. There is frustration, vulnerability and lingering desire all colliding at once, with the melody making those conflicted emotions feel almost euphoric.
Lyrically, the relationship is clearly far from healthy. Taylor sings about wishing she could go back and avoid the heartbreak altogether, while simultaneously admitting that she remains completely drawn towards the person responsible for it. Lines about being left broken on the bedroom floor bring a more exposed edge to proceedings, preventing the glossy production from softening the emotional impact.
Perhaps the cleverest thing about “Obsession” is how enjoyable all that turmoil sounds. Its bright guitar lines, driving rhythm and infectious chorus could easily soundtrack a carefree singalong, yet underneath sits a song about knowing somebody is bad for you and still being unable to properly walk away.
By the time Taylor repeatedly asks to be taken home during the closing moments, resistance has seemingly disappeared altogether.
Obsession is messy, melodic and dangerously catchy turning emotional self-destruction into the sort of chorus you’ll willingly return to again and again.
Bad Decisions, EP, featuring Obsessions is released on Friday 2nd October and is available to pre-saveorbuy on CD
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