Lotte Gallagher : A Better Feeling Review
by Shannon Smith
Lotte Gallagher’s debut EP, A Better Feeling, is a striking entry into the alt-rock landscape, reflecting her musical roots and raw, emotive lyricism. As a 17-year-old singer-songwriter from Northside Melbourne, Gallagher has already made a name for herself, impressing Triple J tastemakers and earning a top-five finalist spot in the 2023 Unearthed High competition. With influences ranging from the 90s grunge scene to the modern indie sounds of Phoebe Bridgers and Angie McMahon, her music feels organic, refreshingly blending angst with introspection.
Opening with “Gasoline,” a slow-burning track co-written with Oscar Dawson and Ali Barter, the EP sets the tone for the emotional and sonic depth to come. Dawson (of Holy Holy) helms the production, providing the perfect backdrop for Gallagher’s commanding vocals. “Gasoline” simmers with heartbreak, layering shimmering guitars over Gallagher’s piercing lyrical reflections on the aftermath of love. Her vocal delivery, equal parts vulnerable and fierce, cuts through the track, grounding the listener in her emotional landscape.
The breakout single, “Adam,” which has garnered over 1 million streams, showcases Gallagher’s ability to create earworm melodies without sacrificing lyrical depth. The song’s success is no accident; it’s a finely crafted piece that captures the pain of disillusionment while also being highly relatable. In a year when Gallagher graced stages with indie heavyweights like The Beaches and Ricky Montgomery, “Adam” solidified her place as a rising force in the alt-rock scene.
In “Gray,” Gallagher explores the murkiness of young adulthood, where emotions rarely fall neatly into categories of black and white. The propulsive guitars drive the song forward while her vocals navigate the intricate push-and-pull of doubt and determination. It’s an anthem for the in-between moments of life, where clarity is hard to find, but the need to move forward remains constant.
“Heavy” introduces a shift in the emotional current of the EP. Written during what Gallagher initially thought was a love song, the track reveals its more profound, melancholic core post-breakup. It’s a testament to Gallagher’s evolving understanding of love and relationships—a reflective realization that sometimes what we thought was light turns out much darker. The weight of the track is felt not only in its lyrical content but in the heavy, reverberating guitar lines that anchor the listener in its melancholic atmosphere.
The standout track, “Blue,” is a live favorite, and for good reason. Gallagher’s songwriting shines brightest here, with a raw, angsty energy that pulls the listener into her heartbreak. The tension builds throughout the song, culminating in an emotionally charged climax that hits hard. There’s a cathartic release in her delivery, as if she’s allowing herself and the audience to feel the pain’s total weight before letting it go.
“This Room,” the EP’s title track, closes the album with a fierce and punchy anthem. Gallagher’s clever lyricism takes center stage as she sings about the moment of clarity that comes with finally walking away from something toxic. “Let me be, when I start leaving, I just need, a better feeling,” she declares over a bed of indie guitar and a crescendo that begs to be shouted from the rooftops. It’s a fitting end to an EP that, from start to finish, embodies the emotional turbulence of youth while offering a glimpse of the artistic maturity that lies ahead for Gallagher.
In sum, A Better Feeling is a coming-of-age story told through the lens of an artist who is wise beyond her years. The sonic landscape of the EP—gritty guitars, atmospheric production, and Gallagher’s powerful vocals—draws from the alt-rock greats while remaining uniquely her own. Gallagher’s songwriting reveals an artist unafraid to confront the darker sides of life while still searching for that elusive “better feeling” at the end. This debut marks the arrival of a new voice in alt-rock, one that we’re sure to hear much more from in the years to come.
Lotte Gallagher: Website
Lotte Gallagher
A Better Feeling
October 4, 2024
Mushroom Music