Live Review: Wafia's new EP 'Good Things' explores the loss and liberation of growing up and relationships

Iraqi-Syrian artist Wafia has released a transfixing self-love EP Good Things. An ode to her personal experience with heartbreak, loss, and the cathartic freedom that followed, Wafia is a boss when it comes to creating upbeat danceable tracks that hold a personal message, with this EP being no different.

The RIAA Gold-certified artist lives up to her reputation in this sonically adventurous EP, sharing six ambient songs in which she mixes together high energy pop, expansive electronica, and soulful melodies. Exploring lost friendships, gut wrenching break ups, and moments of self-reflection, Good Things reminds us that after the storm the sun will shine again.

The sounds layered throughout Good Things are consistently liberating and atmospheric, amplified by Wafia's undeniably stunning vocals. 'Hurricane' is a reflective ballad with strumming guitars and an upbeat electronica tune that explores the fear of losing connections between friendships, while the lyrics in 'Pick Me' are full of strong feminine empowerment, sharing the message to always put yourself first.With dancing electronic notes, bouncing beats, and warm atmospherics, it’s the self-love anthem we all need right now.

Performing the song earlier this month at the Lollapalooza virtual festival 'Butterflies' is an electro-pop banger in which Wafia reflects on her past relationships, while the almost hypnotic quality of 'Flowers & Superpowers' takes things to new heights with its addictive pop foundations. As for the title track, this song can only be described as “high energy”, with its punchy beat reminding us to focus on the brighter things in life. “This song to me is a celebration of all the good that comes your way when you make the space for it,” Wafia said about ‘Good Things’. 'How To Lose A Friend' concludes the EP on an emotive and slow note with soft melodies and soulful vocals that explore the loss felt when you lose a close friend. This solemn track embodies the rawness of Wafia's EP as it explores the deeply personal experiences in her life.

“I shed a lot of heaviness in the last year, friendships and relationships that didn’t serve me any longer. I grieved a lot and some days I still do but anything difficult comes with an opportunity for something better. This EP is about that,” said Wafia in a statement about her EP.

As an EP of self-discovery, Wafia learns throughout each song how to handle loss, grief, and pain and turn it into something positive. Wafia's Good Things EP embodies a personal message to all listeners that self-love is the most important love, and that sometimes the worst of times can bring out the best in a people.

Good Things is out now. Buy/stream here.

Words by Claudia Fallon

Image by Drew Escriva

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