Girlhood Embodied: Stevie Bill – ‘I was a platinum blonde’ Review

Words: Keira Knox

Dutch musician Stevie Bill has already had an amazing year in 2024, with highlights including touring the UK alongside Nieve Ella, giving an unforgettable supporting set in Hyde Park for the renowned Stevie Nicks, and announcing her debut headline tour. ‘I was a platinum blonde,’ her second EP, is now available! It addresses issues of change and what it means to be a complicated, self-contradictory human being.

Avril Lavigne and Britney Spears, two 2000s female pop artists, are major sources of influence for Stevie Bill. Her compositions resonate deeply with others of her generation due to how they tell tales of misguided youth, tumultuous relationships, and aspirations.

‘Platinum Blonde’, an incredibly poignant acoustic song, opens the EP. This track’s mournful acoustic string arrangements serve as an emotional focal point, igniting a deep sense of melancholy as it tackles the subject of insecurity and self-doubt. The instrumentals flow around Stevie Bill’s soft vocals, allowing the listener to solely focus on the emotion permeating from this track. Stevie Bill skilfully communicates the hardship and relatability of adolescence to an audience that will deeply identify with her work.

The next track ‘Girl,’ which prominently features beautiful melodies and vocals while subtly illustrating the highs and lows of being a woman in society, is bound to appeal to girls everywhere. This track is pure emotion, girlhood embodied, with real passion spilling forth at every turn. Stevie Bill’s delicate, dreamlike vocals only help to accentuate the depth of feeling that permeates this tune.

‘Hahaha,’ which is arguably her most well-known song, embodies the colourful exuberance for which Bill is known. ‘Hahaha’ has become an anthem for us angst-ridden girls after becoming viral on TikTok. The track concerns Bill’s mental anguish in a toxic relationship and how you have to accept that sometimes the things you desire aren’t intended for you. Gorgeous vocals, passionate lyrics, and flowing guitar riffs are all there to make this an indie-pop hit. Is there anything more you could ask for?

‘Hurts To Hold On’ shifts the tone of the EP, engrossing you in Stevie Bill’s emotional agony while an enchanting piano melody fills your senses. The way Stevie Bill weaves real-life events into her exquisite lyrics is a profoundly underappreciated aspect of her relatability. The crescendo of this track is simply outstanding, building up pace replicating the feelings of panic and anxiety.

The optimistic mood of ‘Lalala’ captures the essence of girlhood at its best—the free-spirited nature that we all strive to have. This song’s instrumentals are noteworthy in and of itself because of how well they match Stevie Bill’s vocals. The guitar riffs build gradually at first, allowing the listener to focus on Bill’s distinctive vocals, but then they unexpectedly burst into life, bringing to mind the sound of that specific pop rock scene from the 2000s. The vibrant passionate chorus of ‘Lalala,’ which has such a compelling intensity, will have your head spinning.

The EP ends with ‘Bodies,’ a folk song with a fairytale feel that is influenced by artists like Boygenius and Joni Mitchell. This song, in my opinion, perfectly captures the EP’s theme of becoming a more authentic version of yourself. Beautiful harmonies and acoustic arrangements illustrate how change is inevitable and that we must accept the reality of it. We are continually changing and taking on new forms.

Stevie Bill is set to embark on her headline tour this Autumn/Winter!

TOUR DATES:

1st Oct – The Worksman’s Club – Dublin

3rd Oct – SWG3 Poetry – Glasgow

5th Oct – NBHD Festival – Manchester

7th Oct – Omerara – London

Listen to the EP here: