written by Kenna Attaway
narrated by Elecktra Stanislava
A spring afternoon is the perfect setting to listen to Plum by Sky Hemenway. The sun shines into the living room as the Bluetooth speaker powers on to play “Happier”. Then, slowly, as the EP comes to a close with “Stupid Fucking Things”, there is a sense of personal growth. There is a realization that life is full of ups and downs, but that doesn’t take away from the growth along the way.
Plum is a great example of indie bedroom pop. Within the album, velvety synths and vocals are used throughout. Hemenway’s voice is light and airy which goes along with the beats in the tracks. She released three songs as singles last year before bringing them into a five song, 14-minute EP on November 17, 2023.
Hemenway has been making music in her bedroom for around four years. Plum came together in about two weeks; however, some of its songs she wrote two years ago. The EP also has a very intimate vibe to it, almost as if it were Hemenway’s diary. She said she loves solitude and prefers writing alone in her house.
Plum starts with “Happier”, a song that touches on themes of coming far in life and feeling happy about it while simultaneously feeling exhausted from the growing and changing that Hemenway has been doing. The song begins with a light guitar and then leads into soft synths and drums. The drums are very light and not intense. Their purpose is to keep the beat, and they mimic the soft guitar at the beginning.
Up next on the EP is “Plum”, the opening of which could be best described as a playful tune. The music video to “Plum” is filled with clips of Hemenway’s cat, Plum, as a kitten alongside clips of her friends and family. This song is an ode to the loved ones in Hemenway’s life. It starts with a deliberate dusting of the drums and synths. There is no guitar in this track. The stand-alone drums and synths allow the audience to imagine Plum the kitten bouncing around in his adolescence.
The third song in the EP is “What’s Wrong/Whats Right”, a ballad wherein Hemenway is struggling to find what is wrong and what is right about a relationship. Synths do not come in until about halfway through the song almost as if to signify a climax or realization.
The fourth song, “White Noise”, starts with a slow melody with light rain in the background reminiscent of a spring morning. Hemenway is begging someone to stay. Throughout the song, the listener hears clips of laughter and talking. These could be positive memories that Hemenway has had with the person she is begging to stay. The sound of gentle rain adds to the melancholy vibe of the song.
“Stupid Fucking Things”, starts with that heavier guitar heard in “What’s Wrong/Whats Right”. Gradually, light drums come in that lead to a build-up of synths. This song is about getting irritable with the mundane and repetitiveness of life. Near the end of the song, Hemenway asks herself, “Why am I waiting?” This is often a question people ask themselves when they need a change. This final song in the EP leaves the listener with almost a cliffhanger of the story that Hemenway has presented. What will happen next? Will Hemenway change to get out of this repetitive cycle in her life?
Plum is inspired by her cat, Plum. According to Hemenway, “Plum is a fun little guy, but he has a dark side, much like the EP.” The cover art also features Hemenway holding her cat in the woods. Above Hemenway’s head, comic-like thought bubbles read the words “Plum EP.” The cover art is a hint to where the album got its name.
The overarching themes in this EP are relationships, not only with others but with oneself. Like Hemenway said, the EP has a dark side. The catchy tunes are easy to keep humming throughout the day. Recommending this EP is easy. Every track flows together to make a beautiful story of personal growth. So grab some earbuds or that Bluetooth speaker and absorb the magic that is Plum.
Kenna Attaway
Kenna Attaway is a freelance journalist and a graduate of OCCC. She loves writing and music and is excited to take part in Make Oklahoma Weirder. In her spare time, she writes for her blog which you can find here: https://ferret-semicircle-maxy.squarespace.com/