Arctic Lake’s intimate new EP, side by side we lie awake might be brief, but it is filled to the brim with hauntingly beautiful emotion and lush production. The duo, comprised of Emma Foster and Paul Holliman, has captured the emotional highs and lows of a relationship within five short songs, accomplishing with a short EP what many artists struggle to do with a full-length album.
Vulnerable and raw, side by side we lie awake perfectly embodies what makes Arctic Lake so great. “Love You Like That” and “Lonely” are both a couple of electro-pop bops, carried primarily by gorgeous synth, groovy bass lines and catchy choruses. Both songs capture love at first sight and infatuation, while the more stripped down “Breathe” begs, “I’m just wanting you to hold me” and the simplistic “Hesitate” brings things to a bittersweet close. Full of longing, intimacy and vulnerability, side by side we lie awake will easily make fans and new listeners alike eager to hear even more from Arctic Lake.