FLOWERKID - EVERYONE HAS A BREAKING POINT EP
From light italic vulnerable moments to bold siren ringing, flowerkid is able to sonically capture the ebbs and flows of self-acceptance with EP everyone has a breaking point.
In April 2018 Australian radios were swarmed by the pure delicacy of flowerkid and ‘the boy with the winfields and the wild heart’; a song that resonated far and wide and triggered emotion in even the coldest of hearts.
The Sydney musician continues to evoke the choked-up feeling across his 6 track EP, everyone has a breaking point.
With writing and recording for the debut EP beginning during the early stages of flowerkid (real name Flynn Sant) coming out as trasngender, everyone has a breaking point, documents the period of transition through dissecting identity, toxic masculinity, societal and religious stigmas, and the associated shame, whilst also capturing the physical changes induced from testosterone therapy.
‘it’s happening again (feat KUČKA)’ offers “I’ve got no control this time”, ‘miss andry’ explains “I never hated you, I don’t even hate them, I just hate myself”, ‘vodka orange juice’ states “it took me a while to be where I am now” and candidly admits “I didn’t sign up for this life but I’m doing the best I can / I’ve tried to commit suicide several times”, ‘take two’ comments “no one knows what I’m facing”, ‘why bother’ tells “I’m seeking validation” and ‘i met the devil at 4 years old’ suggests “for me God is a no show / I had to do it all on my own”. flowerkid is transparent in his transition journey and the process of self-discovery along with the societal influences that posed as a hurdle. Grief, jealousy, acceptance, fear, loneliness, questioning - everyone has a breaking point journals every emotion experienced by Sant in the most raw storytelling form and it is truly heartbreaking from a listener's perspective.
Told through an incrementally deepening voice, the result of register change caused from the doses of testosterone, flowerkid pens this airy bedroom pop book on piano parchment, underlined with autotune and highlighted with synths. From light italic vulnerable moments to bold siren ringing, flowerkid is able to sonically capture the ebbs and flows of self-acceptance, even going as far to add a hyper raw moment of quivered crying on ‘vodka orange juice’.
flowerkid delivers an EP that not only operates as a great listen, but gives trans people a voice and has the power to pillow other trans individuals or confused person's journeys. It also allows for others outside of that community to gain understanding, apathy and acceptance of the challenges faced in self-discovery and transition. everyone had a breaking point is an important body of work not only in the music world but also for Flynn Sant as a person and an artist.
To experience the full impact of what flowerkid is so clearly saying and feeling, listen to everyone has a breaking point in a quiet place of comfort with headphones on.
Tammy Walters
★★★★☆