EP Review: Pillars

Otautahi based country pop singer-songwriter Steffany Beck is back with her EP Pillars, out today, 12th April, 2024.

Her latest body of work since 2019’s Blue Eyed Girl, Beck has spent the last few years working hard, honing her craft and making waves in the Christchurch music scene. She has worked with big names including Bic Runga and performed alongside Jason Kerrison and Kaylee Bell. She has been popping up at gigs all over Christchurch, ticking off Christmas In The Park twice, as well as appearing at the NZ Spirit Festival and the South Island Wine and Food Festival.

The five track EP starts off strongly with lead single Foot Down, a defiant and determined country track. On Carpenters Daughter, Beck bares all in a heartfelt tribute to her late father. New single What Would Dolly Do is chock full with fun references to Dolly Parton. Fire with Fire and Star Crossed Lovers both feature a catchy chorus, something that Beck is well versed in.

It’s hard to find fault in the songwriting of the tracks themselves. Beck proves she has a knack for writing a catchy hook, all while telling compelling and heartfelt stories. Production is more professional sounding than on Blue Eyed Girl, but sometimes the lead vocals are drowned out by the instruments and backing vocals, particularly on Foot Down. Perhaps the track listing could be shuffled too, with a more upbeat track being shifted to the second slot to keep up the momentum, such as Star Crossed Lovers or Fire with Fire, and Carpenters Daughter at track four, simply for a more balanced listening experience. But those are very minor things in what is otherwise a very strong sophomore effort from Beck.

To celebrate the release of the EP, Beck will be embarking on a national tour from May through to July, with shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as slots at Tussock Country Music Festival in Gore, and the TSB Festival of Lights in New Plymouth. Pillars proves all the hard work Beck has put in has paid off, and I would highly recommend heading along to one of her shows to hear these latest songs in the flesh.