Renforshort’s EP ‘a girl’s experience’ sets us up perfectly for summer.
With angst, introspective growth and a catchy sound, Renforshort creates a starter pack for young women worldwide.
Renforshort’s song "pretend to like me" is the equivalent of swinging a bat in a rage room. It is utterly self-deprecating in the most relatable way. The tongue-in-cheek desire for her lover to "pretend to like" her is almost endearing; we want to show her that she deserves so much more than that.
Combined with a thumping track, Renforshort expresses an elegant version of anger and desperation. Starting fairly stripped back, drawing us in with her soft vocals, she makes herself heard with a strong, anthemic chorus. She then uses dreamy harmonies on key phrases, like the repetition of the word “falling.”
When she echoes, “what the hell’s up with that?”, Renforshort gives glimmers of growing self-worth and assertiveness. Ultimately though, she speaks right to the heart of her listeners — everyone likes to be liked. True to her title, this is the real ‘girl’s experience’. Her honesty is brave and necessary in an age obsessed with pretending we don’t crave validation to our core.
Renforshort’s second single, "on my way!" is my favourite. With her feminine rage at love interests, we might draw comparisons to Olivia Rodrigo in “pretend to like me”, however this track describes a journey of self-improvement, independent of the men who hurt her. It has the freedom and inspiring tone of Wolf Alice, delivered in an addictive girly pop style.
Her sweet vocals return and despite coming from a place of vulnerability, they feel completely empowering. Although she calls her mind “broken,” Renforshort forces herself out of her funk, refusing to “spend nesting / and wasting away all of the days.”
She has nailed the archetypal track for a windows-down, sunny car ride. The lively drums and light guitar strumming throughout are utterly uplifting. It feels as though Renforshort is chasing after herself — seeing her potential running fast ahead, and sprinting to catch up and become the best version of herself. This time, we really believe she will make it.
Lyrics like “tomorrow will be better,” are simple, yet the sentiment comes across. Renforshort doesn’t need to overcomplicate her state of mind with riddled lyricism to give us hope that life is turning around. In fact, she takes the messy issue of mental health and channels it into a hopeful chant we want to scream back at her.
In Renforshort’s song "feeling good" fuses the themes from her previous two songs on the EP. She deeply misses the pure elation of romance and “can’t help but lose control,” almost falling victim to love. Whether it is in the company of a stranger or those who treat her poorly, this is the tale of a woman who fears not just an empty bed, but an empty fantasy. When romance fails, Renforshort finds a replacement in fantasy and who can blame her? Without the dopamine of love, a brain can run wild.
The verses of “feeling good” feel lonely, the chorus nostalgic. It is messy — and yet again, achingly familiar to her target audience.
Short and sweet, the distorted vocals on ‘you’re the one’ reminds me of Naked in Manhattan by Chappell Roan. Renforshort doesn’t overcomplicate the lyrics; it is simply meant to be an anthem for the girls who swoon and revel in their own fantasy.