“What if we just tried to breathe…” Ella McCready ponders in the opening line of her five track debut EP. The London-hailing, powerhouse singer-songwriter finds stillness on the release, in contrast to the busier soundscapes of some of her previous singles, and musically, the artist emerges at her peak so far.

Delicate dustings of piano and downtempo acoustic production form the foundations of the EP, co-written by UK-based musician Jacob Stoney, who also co-produced the project alongside LA based producer, Jeremy Rompala. Touching on the pressures of artistry, McCready talks of the vulnerability she feels at “offering up her soul” everytime she releases work. Lead single “What It’s Worth” interrogates the cost of sharing your art and navigating outside evaluations of it. “It takes a lot of courage and vulnerability to be able to open yourself up to other people’s opinions on something you’ve created,” she explains.

Relatability for almost anyone, from a talent like few others, McCready’s project spans the gamut of emotions relating to vulnerability, pain, weakness and re-finding strength, with her, a captivating and endearing storyteller.

Head below to hear it for yourself, right now…