EP review by Brittany Ormiston

Pop singer-songwriter Christian French released his eagerly anticipated EP Punch The Brakes on June 26th. The five-track body of work is a turning point for French as he emerges an independent artist for the first time since 2018. His fresh perspective on music, life, and the pursuit of happiness shines through his artistry. The EP dives into the depths of French’s soul, and zeros in on the constant thinking about the future while simultaneously clinging to the past.

Fans have implored French to release the title track of the EP, ‘Punch The Brakes,’ for many months, especially after he performed it during The Space Between tour in 2023. This track kicks off the EP with lyricism depicting how fast life moves, and learning to live in the present. The soft drums and acoustic guitar provide such a crisp, organic feel to the track which carries over to the rest of the EP as well. French reminisces about a past relationship in ‘Bad Tattoo’ where he experiences nostalgia and a sense of regret. “I traded love for pleasure like a fool // And that's stuck with me forever like a bad tattoo” is a brilliant lyric and a play on words to depict those feelings that never quite go away. To close the EP, French flips the narrative with a short piano number. In ‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’ his raspy vocals are filled to the brim with emotion as he sings about meeting someone new who has changed his life for the better. With only one verse, listeners are left with their own thoughts on what is next for French.

French is ready for what is to come, and Punch The Brakes is the first milestone on his new journey. He has left listeners with another outlook on life with this EP as they support him every step of the way. “In a world where everything is about progress & making a name for yourself as fast as you can, I hope this project can be a temporary escape from all of the noise & bring you back to baseline,” shares French. Someone wise once said good things take time…

Christian French

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