NIA WYN – EP REVIEW


Nia Wyn – Love I Can’t Ruin 
Nia Wyn - Love I Can't Ruin

Release Date: 19th February 2020

Nia Wyn hails from North Wales and survived growing up in a small town through the soul music she found in charity shop record bins. The result of that well spent youth is that we finally, finally, finally have a worthy heir to the long-vacated Amy Winehouse throne. Now, don’t get me wrong, Wyn is no copyist but instead she is a deeply soulful artist with a hugely impressive voice and a fresh take on music – that’s what makes this such a delicious EP. Shall we?

Opening with ’10 Seconds’, Wyn eases us into the record with funky guitars and lavish keys leaving plenty of space for that distinctive vocal to introduce itself to the listener. Next up is ‘Stay in Your Lane’ (a phrase I normally despise), a track that melds old soul with new world views and Wyn’s direct take on the doubters, nay-sayers and down-bringers. The title track, ‘Love I Can’t Ruin’, has such an authentic sound and honest lyrics that it’s impossible not to get swept away with it; “I want a love so pure, even I can’t ruin it” is a sentiment we’ve all felt at some point, right?

After the stuttering yet direct interlude of ‘Last Warning’ we come to the piece de la resistance in the shape of closing track ‘Castaway’. Opening with a sample of Boris Johnson’s ‘bus’ interview over some funked up guitars, Wyn soon gets to setting the record straight by spitting out lines like “Fear is a powerful drug when more people die from benefits cut. Makes you ask who are the thugs? Just Tweeting about it ain’t enough, what else are we supposed to do?” I’m genuinely blown away by this EP from an artist at such an early stage in their life/career so, y’know, get involved. Just like Paul Weller has. 


Live Dates:

1st May – Corn Exchange, Cambridge w/Paul Weller
2nd May – UEA, Norwich w/Paul Weller
4th May – Winter Gardens, Margate w/Paul Weller
5th May – Cliffs Pavillion, Southend w/Paul Weller
6th May – New Theatre, Oxford w/Paul Weller
14th May – Guildhall, Portsmouth w/Paul Weller