Words by Lucy Fudge
Multifaceted artist and creator Talia Mar recently announced her upcoming hiatus from music – something which her fans have responded to with support and compassion – but she’s not leaving them empty-handed. Her long-awaited EP ‘Not Worth The Wait’ is finally here, and with one last live show to play, she’s promising to make what might be her last musical project a memorable endeavour.
The seven-track EP opens with the titular song ‘Not Worth The Wait (Intro)’, which is a cinematic introduction, offering classical piano, dramatic string arrangements and powerful vocals.
Mar has never been one to shy away from her emotions, and ‘Psycho on a Couch’ recounts an unfortunate experience of meeting with a therapist who diminishes their clients instead of creating a safe space. The track brings to mind the peak era of girl groups such as ‘Little Mix’ and ‘Fifth Harmony’, with layered harmonies and funky instrumentals coming together in a glorious pop concoction.
From girlband hits like ‘Wannabe’ and ‘Ego’ to Meghan Trainor’s ‘NO’, the 90s to 2010s offered a wealth of what is best described as “A Man’s Worst Nightmare” music, and the next three tracks on the record offer exactly that energy. ‘You Did That To Amy!?’ has an R&B edge, with lyrics such as “Swap a ten for a two, boy who taught you bad math” and “When you see that you sat in the crash car / We’ll be the ghosts in the back singing / Ha, ha, ha,” reinforcing Mar’s boldness in supporting her friend and calling a man out. ‘Ghostin’’ has a darker edge, with staccato synths contrasting airy vocal runs and whispered threats.
If the previous two songs are a warning to men against wronging a woman and her friends, then ‘A Bitch Always Knows’ is the reality of the consequences. The record’s first single is pure pop, with ruthlessly catchy lyrics like “I kissed your friends, and I keyed your car / A bitch always knows before you break her heart” and playful “la-la-la”s giving the impression of a predator toying with her prey before going in for the kill.
The ladies’ room in a club is infamously a place where female friendships go to thrive, and the muffled intro to ‘Girls In The Bathroom’ paired with the layered vocals and supportive words transports you right there. The track is a celebration of girlhood and finding your people, with the simple yet overwhelmingly accurate refrain of “I love being, I love being a girl” driving the message home.
The EP’s tongue-in-cheek finale, ‘Nice To Meet You’, is littered with witty lyricism and experimental audio, switching from bright and modern to something more retro. The closing line “It’s been nice, not nice to meet you” is followed by a bright laugh, capturing the playful spirit of the EP.
Don’t let the title fool you; ‘Not Worth The Wait’ is seventeen minutes of playful pop gloriousness, and should Talia Mar choose to return to music, we’re sure it will absolutely be worth the wait. But if not, then we wish her the best of luck in everything else she does.
Leave a Reply