Hazel English has released another dreamy single from her upcoming first full-length album, Wake UP! The Aussie singer-songwriter released “Shaking” last year, her first single since her vibrant double EP “Just Give In/Never Going Home.” In addition to showcasing her improved production quality, it previewed a  ‘70s retro aesthetic that English is taking on. Her newest single, “Off My Mind,” follows in those footsteps, but with a newer take on vintage.

“Off My Mind” begins with a grooving, off-beat drum and bass intro, reminiscent of The Doors. English comes in with yet another catchy-as-all-get-out melody, a common feature of her songs that makes them so special. She croons about being stuck, afraid to make a move on the person she can’t get “off her mind.”

As the secret-admirer song progresses, layers are sprinkled in, giving it that dream-pop flavor that brings her retro aesthetic into 2020. However, she is much more intentional with her layered harmonies and instrumentation than she was in her original EP. This, along with a lean into real-instrument sound, pulls her out of the shoegaze-y bedroom pop of “Never Going Home” and submerges her further into a more mature original sound.

Her last project examined her personal struggles with anxiety and relationships, a sort of homage to growing up. However, the singles from her forthcoming album feel like the petals of a blossoming flower. Hazel English seems to be  coming out of her shell with Wake UP!, and urges others to use her newfound mantra to wake up, too.

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The finished project is set to release on April 24.

Feature image by Janell Shirtcliff.