EP Review: XX

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2013 was a big year, Lorde released her first EP but she wasn’t our only Singer/Songwriter that got international acclaim that year, there was also Janine Foster otherwise known as Janine and The Mixtape. Described as an electrifying performer that has developed her own unique combination of pop, indie, R&B, and hip hop. Her latest EP titled XX follows her debut Dark Mind EP from 2013. For those of you who don’t know Janine and the Mixtape, she has had songs featured on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta and XX EP got to #2 on the R&B charts on iTunes and I think she has that late 90’s Aaliyah vibe about her. XX reached #5 on the Official NZ Music Charts where it still remains a favourite, she is also one of my favourite NZ musicians. 

XX includes half a dozen new tracks, including When I’m Broken and a brilliant cover of DMX’s Lose My Mind, both of which initially premiered as part of Janine’s on-going ‘Little Mixtape Mondays’ on her website. Lose My Mind along with This Moment are two of the stand out jams on this EP. My favourite though is the remix of Hold Me (Feat. Pusha T) which paints the perfect picture of the love, not to mention the stunning music video that can be viewed on Youtube. Keeping with the forlorn theme, forever only lasts when it’s convenient which is the message Janine & The Mixtape delivers to a no-good lover in When I’m Broken. Lyrics like “You like me more when I am broken/ Is that why you just try to hurt me?,” she sings. “Forever’s for me when I’m weak.” She proves that what doesn’t kill you only makes for a sick hit song.

XX has fast received rave reviews from a range of high profile outlets, including Pigeons & Planes, which hailed the EP for “sensual production” and “lustful vocals that seemingly spoon-feed the listener (Janine’s) emotive messages.” “Brand new and quite pretty,” noted The Fader, while Hypetrak declared the set to be “one impressive return to form,” which she is, on form that is!