Amanda Fondell – Pt. 1 Let me introduce you to my thoughts

Amanda Fondell’s career has felt like a balloon ride caught in a gust of wind. The catapult of winning Pop Idol soon became a journey of self-discovery while navigating the music industry maze. With two satisfactory albums and an EP in Amanda’s repertoire, her latest EP Pt. 1 Let Me Introduce You to my Thoughts is her best work to date.

The art of album covers does not go unnoticed here, and the theme of the EP is creatively reflected with the mirror image of a closed-eyed Amanda. Inside, is a concentrated shot of vibrant pop fused R&B. No fillers. No interludes.

While our thoughts can be messy and unstructured, Amanda writes and sings with a commanding sense of direction.

Whether on the emotionally charged Sympathy, or the sublime Needed (a personal fave with its stripped production), the ‘groovesome’ Twist, or the ‘middle finger raising’ Widescreen, the songs are messages of strength, confidence and lyrics of filter-free confessions.

The energetically explosive Reckless delivers thunderous R&B (a proper banger!), and Part Of It delights with a delicate tropical pop arrangement.

Pt. 1 Let me introduce you to my thoughts is a defined attempt to make an independent artistic statement. However, as intensely satisfying as this EP is, the challenge Amanda faces is differentiation in an ever-increasing crowd of female pop/R&B artists.

I for one hope Pt. 2 keeps lifting her up.