Nieve Ella reinforces her status as the next big thing with latest EP ‘Watch It Ache and Bleed’.
Nieve Ella has consistently demonstrated why she's poised to become the next breakout star. With her latest EP, all eyes were on her, and the pressure was intense—but she exceeded expectations in every way. Amid significant life changes, she once again proves that her path to stardom is inevitable.
Experiencing these tracks live before hearing the full project was a true gift. The anticipation for the complete EP was already high, but even so, it surpassed all of my expectations and delivered beyond my wildest hopes.
The project opens with the striking intro track "Anything," setting the tone with Nieve Ella's signature riffs and a cinematic start that immediately signals you're in for an immersive journey of storytelling, relatability, and raw emotion. One standout element, which I’ve always admired across other projects, is how she weaves the EP's title into the first song—subtly but with precision—amplified by a standout riff that draws your attention. It's a small detail, but it perfectly highlights the sonic sophistication of this project.
The opening track is followed by two pre-release singles that have been expertly positioned to highlight the impressive cohesiveness of the entire EP. Even before the full project dropped, "Sugarcoated" and "The Things We Say" had already become staple Nieve Ella tracks, resonating deeply with her dedicated fanbase. Yet, despite these being standout singles—alongside "Ganni Top"—the tracks that follow push the boundaries even further, elevating the EP as it progresses. The transition from "The Reason" into "Ganni Top" is a bold move, taking listeners from emotional lows to exhilarating highs, but it keeps you hooked, reminding you that Nieve is far more than her past mistakes. This was a calculated decision, knowing fans would be taken on a heartfelt emotional journey right at the EP's midpoint.
We then move into the final three songs of the project, which, in my opinion, solidify why Nieve Ella earned the #1 spot in our first edition of 'Ranked' and has stayed there ever since. "Sweet Nothings" opens slowly, teasing a mellow moment before the drums kick in alongside an infectious riff that energizes the entire track. Once again, the bridge stands out as a highlight, with Nieve cleverly weaving her lyrics into the track’s playful rhythm, making it impossible not to hit replay just to experience that section again. As it loops back into the chorus, the song reaches new sonic heights, bringing everything together in a truly remarkable way.
"Stop Me!" might just be Nieve Ella's finest track to date. This song showcases everything she excels at—lyrically, sonically, and her remarkable ability to completely shift the mood during the bridge. What really stands out here is the way the track progressively builds in intensity, becoming louder and faster with more layers, perfectly mirroring the emotions Nieve is expressing: the frustration of miscommunication, complex feelings, and the pain of one-sided relationships. The production alone captures this, and that's before you even get to Nieve's deeply evocative lyrics.
The bridge, undeniably the highlight of the entire EP, not only reveals new depths to Nieve’s vocal range but also transforms the track into something that feels like a completely different song—yet in the best possible way. It’s one of the most impressive songs I’ve heard all year. Despite its dark subject matter, there’s a sense of hope and comfort in the phrase “No one’s going to stop me,” which takes on an entirely new meaning by that point in the song. While the interpretation may vary from listener to listener—and perhaps intentionally so—it’s a testament to the layers in this track and how deeply it can resonate on multiple levels.
The closing track feels like a culmination of everything that came before, blending elements from the entire EP into one final statement. At her EP release show, Nieve explained that when she recorded this song, she went into the studio with no plan—just a desire to express whatever she was feeling in that moment. The result is a raw, emotional outpouring that perfectly captures that spontaneity. Nieve pours her heart out, and as the track builds into a cinematic crescendo, layering sounds and increasing intensity, it eventually fades out, leaving the song to linger with the listener long after it ends.
In short, if you're looking for proof that the future of indie music is in safe hands, just listen to ‘Watch It Ache and Bleed’ from start to finish and experience the journey of Nieve Ella. From the first time I saw her perform in late 2022, in a half-empty room, to her emotional EP release show that brought fans to tears, Nieve continues to show us just how extraordinary she truly is.
10/10
Nieve Ella’s ‘Watch It Ache and Bleed’ has been added to under the radar’s Elite Picks.