To truly understand the new single from Eva Gardner, we have to turn the clock back almost twenty years, looking deep into the heart of 1993 when legendary engineer and producer Andy Johns arrived on the doorstep of British rock bassist, Kim Gardner, bringing with him a Pignose amplifier and bass guitar. While a star of The Creation and The Birds, the guitar and amplifier were not meant for Kim, and instead they fell into the hands of his daughter, Eva, beginning a love affair with music that has lasted until this very day. After starting to write songs and perform in bands throughout her hometown of Los Angeles, Eva eventually decided to follow in her Father’s footsteps, studying music and pushing embarking on a music career that would see her working with The Mars Volta, P!nk, Gwen Stefani, Cher, Tegan & Sara, Moby and Veruca Salt.
Fast-forward to 2019 and Eva’s career has only gone from strength to strength, culminating in the release of her debut EP, ‘Chasing Ghosts’. A sharp and powerful release, the EP has already garnered critical praise form the likes of Glide Magazine, The 405, and The Big Takeover, but it’s the second single, ‘Forever Is Never’ that we’re focused on today.
A single that first surfaced in 2019, ‘Forever Is Never’ ushered in the full EP with a gritty, yet alluring sound, pushing through the boundaries of old school rock and dragging the genre into the 21st Century. Offering layers of thunderous drums, dark, indelible guitar riffs, and a defiant, modern spirit, the single delivers a standout performance form the very first note, detailing the turbulent love story of couple’s beach holiday. Emotion flies in the face of a grunge-laden rock aesthetic as Eva howls throughout, twisting the narrative on a pin, proudly announcing that the relationship is coming to an end, and the protagonist is all the happier because of it.
Through a deft blend of romanticised nostalgia and hopeful, rock anthems, Eva has been able to twist a common narrative into something empowering and defiantly different. Bold, brazen, and utterly irresistible, ‘Forever Is Never’ showcases a sharp understanding of hard-hitting riffs and damning atmospherics, loading the song with modern flavour that mingles perfectly with some class rock traditions. A masterful illustration of what her full EP stands for, ‘Forever Is Never’ is the definition of essential new music.
You can stream the single above via Spotify, as well as on all major platforms, and be sure to check out the full, five-track EP by clicking here.
Score: 8.5/10
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