PANIA Shares Deep Feeling Sophomore EP 'WE STILL YOUNG'

West Melbourne’s PANIA releases her highly anticipated sophomore EP WE STILL YOUNG, a 7 track project that follows up her debut project burnt ur clothes & changed the addy.

Opening with the title of the EP ‘WE STILL YOUNG’, a gentle acoustic guitar strummed offering that allows PANIA to confront feelings of loneliness and exist in a space of vulnerability. She embraces the not knowing and uncertainty, as well as acknowledges that there is more to experience. However, she reassures herself that problems are universally shared.

Before transitioning into a reworked and extended version of ‘ALL MINE’. Heartfelt and passionate she navigates a long-distance relationship that ultimately ends in parting with a rich tone as she expresses a range of conflicting emotions.

PANIA croons silkily “Relax your mind/ I’m just trying to find peace inside your eyes/ these demons inside your head tell your lies/ wish you never believed these lies.”

Speaking about the EP, PANIA says, "WE STILL YOUNG is an excuse we use in our early 20s and early teenage years - we still young, we live in that moment, we feel it, because these are the years that we go through the most, but these are also the years we can’t get back. It’s about finding balance, navigating work and relationships and the sacrifices we make to achieve our goals.”

The third track ‘PLAYLIST (ROCK DA BOAT)’ draws influence from Aaliyah’s ‘Rock The Boat’. However, its addictive low synths and rhythmic percussion create the perfect hypotonic and hazy dance electronic soundscape.

Sharing her thoughts on the track PANIA says “It incorporates chants from my culture that we use in a celebratory way. I wanted to make it for the clubs with a touch of darkness to it”.

Using a gospel sample in ‘GETTN OVA U’ provides a spiritual feel to the track that heavily leans into the emotional side of the singer. We feel PANIA’s frustration and heartache as she turns to alcohol and partying for escapism.

On ‘DNT NEED YOU’, the story further develops as she finds pockets of introspection to reflect on her past relationship and come to the realisation that she doesn’t need her love interest anymore. The track also features smooth rapper Miko Mal.

‘P STANDS 4 PLAYA’, allows PANIA to soulfully sing against the funky electronic beat as she looks at the unbalancing of the relationship before finishing on the energetic ‘BURNA FONE’ diverting from the R&B sound.

The ending signals a new exciting period of PANIA, and further demonstrates that throughout the project we have experienced wide range of musical sounds and influences from the different eras of music, predominantly early 2000s R&B and 80s soul by the likes of Rose Royce’s ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ but also UK garage.

It perfectly embodies the freedom of still being young, and a release of the tension that has been built up over the seven tracks.

Looking to the future PANIA will support American R&B artist Givēon on his sold-out Australian headline tour this October. PANIA is also scheduled to deliver a collection of live shows at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion and the Palais Theatre in Melbourne.

Listen here