EP REVIEW: JESSICA SEVIER - WILD WILD WOMAN

With a bountiful seven tracks to listen to, it's hard to know if this is a bonus packed ep or a slightly short album, either way there is plenty to enjoy. Hailing from Canada, Jessica Sevier covers a lot of ground on this EP, including themes of resilience, self-discovery, and empowerment

Three of the opening four tracks are singles, some from 2025 and they introduce a raw form of storytelling, that leaves very little if anything out - when an artist shares this much you cannot help but feel a bond as you hear their journey in graphic detail.

"Motel" as an introduction to Jessica seems to already fill in levels of back story. The opening verse is the end of an dysfunctional relationship.

"The broken mirror is falling apart

But I've never seen myself so clear

Or seen myself without that fear

Your right hand, left a hole in the wall

And now you're calling out for me to stay

The old me might've played that game

But it's changing, oh I'm changing

Pick up the broken pieces and watch me go

Soon I'll be someone that you used to know"

That opening verse mainly plays out to just percussion as Jessica reveals this key moment in her life, though there bass and acoustic guitars are also present while fragments of electric guitar, all make for an interesting combination. Jessica's delivery is quite matter of fact, it's only on the "Changing" line that it starts to become more unusual.

The chorus sees the sound somewhat explode in volume and pace confirming a decision has been made. Jessica confidently asserts the lyrics at some speed

"Gotta get out, just drive

Gonna leave it all behind

Cause there ain't enough room for the two of us"

A subsequent verse, verbally paints a grim picture of abuse and just how cyclic it can be,

"Two six packs and a bottle of rye

It always started off with fun

Till you'd run your mouth and fight someone

You promised you'd be better next time

Till your back is up against the wall

Then somehow it becomes my fault"

eventually reaching breaking point with the final words, as to where she is leaving her ex, delivered with venom

"In that one star, roadside, rotten motel"

The title track "Wild Wild Woman" is the one track of the first four not to have been a single but have no fears, there are no let ups in intensity.

"I got a hole in my ceiling - and a lock on my door

My fingers pressed on the trigger

What am I doing this for?

Can't tell if it's the world that coming

Or if maybe it's the floor

Oh God - I told myself I wouldn't do this anymore"

This is all relayed across an electronic drumbeat and sporadic guitar in the most urgent of vocal deliveries. The next lines see a real drum beat appear building the sound further.

"I didn't want to do it but I did what I wanted

And every time I think I'm through with you

Does this mean I'm haunted?

Except there's nothing to it babe - you showed me yourself

Serves you right cos now I shoot to kill!"

The chorus is quite poppy, with only the final line, slightly distorted, therefore increasing the power of the disdain felt.

I don't even care that you broke my heart

Took my love away and left a scar

Yes you made it easy always showed me who you are

How dare you push a wild wild woman this far."

Later verses have a prominent banjo and fiddle joining the fray to make a heady concoction and the accusatory "How Dare You"s are increasingly accusatory.

As a single "Panic Years" came with a startling cover of pills being poured into a wine glass. The opening verse is a flurry of concerns, once more it is an electronic drum beat, this time with an acoustic guitar - the lyrics still come at a pace, voicing the confusion that comes at this strange time of life, where everyone assumes you have a grand master plan - but what if you haven't? - This is all covered in "Panic Years" which sees Jessica outline just what it is that has her in such a quandary.

"How do I stay present but still be prepared?

Spend time with my friends, but show my family I care

Live on my own, let alone buy a house

But I'm only 20 until I age out

Half sane, half manic drowning in a cold sweat

Hope I'm going somewhere, but I don't know where yet

Wanna go on a road trip but really need a roadmap

People say I'll be okay but how do they know that?"

The chorus encompasses all of those feelings of pressure bearing down, to the point you look at yourself and start to not know who is looking back at you. Musically it is punchy

"I'm in my panic years

I'm kind of freaking out

The trepidation of the future's getting way too loud

I wanna be someone

And make my parents proud

The weight is heavier the more I have to wait it out

Don't recognise the eyes of the girl in the mirror

Since I landed here, in my panic years

In my panic years"

There bridge reflects and acknowledges that this is just a passing phase.

"I know I'll find myself but I don't know when

I hope the hobbies that turned to chores become hobbies again

One day my parents are going to look a lot more like friends

I won't call them at the slightest inconvenience but until then"

There is also a heartening sign off

"I'm gonna figure it out, I'm only 20 until I age out"

It would be interesting to see Bruce Springsteen's reaction to all of the musicians eager to cite the influence he has had on their career. Sometimes these tributes are a little tenuous, however that accusation cannot be attached to Jessica who is very specific down to very line, of the song that helped her. The track opens to Jessica in somewhat of a dark place aged 15, this is a totally different sound, mandolins and acoustic guitars are more the order of the day, Jessica's delivery is equally urgent, as if she must tell you this immediately and you have to listen.

"I remember back then, not a damned thing made sense

Couldn't picture the future, hated present tense

It's hard to dream when you can't sleep

Wish they'd stop asking what I need"

There's talk of drugs and therapy however the light was provided by The Boss

"I'd grab my dad's old cassette with 'The River' on it

Pair of headphones and a spot on the floor

Every word, every line, I'd hold on for dear life

Prayin' nobody came through that door"

The actual nugget is just one line but sometimes that is all it takes.

"I'm pretty sure the one thing that High School taught me

Is that textbooks and teachers are things I don't need

Are dreams a lie if they don't come true

That's not something that I got from school

That's some shit I learned from Bruce"

There is no grandiose production, there doesn't need to be, Jessica holds the listeners attention with a compelling narrative, and it is only an in keeping guitar solo that reminds you that there is additional instrumentation occurring. There's a nice knowing nod where the "Ooohing" that ends Bruce's "I'm On Fire" is lovingly referenced. Amazingly written on the same day as "Motel", it just shows what a gift songwriting can be.

"Good To Drive" opens to the sound of an engine starting and mixes a couple of different versions of intoxications drink and infatuation to the point it's not easy to see which is which. It all makes for a heady mix in the chorus, with Jessica drawn to someone she knows is not good for her yet feels inescapably drawn to.

The opening verse has Jessica's friends

"Talking me into getting drunk, having fun, moving on" yet it seems she can't.

It's another pulsating chorus, that all but threatens to race out of control as it speeds up

"So I bought a drink but won't take a sip

Just in case you want me on your lips

We hit the brakes but, baby, tonight

If you call me, I'll be good to drive all night

I don't care if it hurts me, baby, hurt me again

Keys in my hand, tears in my eyes

In the morning, I'll be good to drive"

There's a telling exchange in the next verse, the disapproval is palpable.

"Momma said "Not again", standing in the driveway watching me back in, prying"

It is in many ways the perfect introduction to the next track

In a total change of scenery "Bad For Me" is a piano ballad, it could be the prelude to some lush strings and sappy sentiment - It isn't! Once more Jessica lays bare the universal truths about toxic relationships, where to the untrained eye of the outsider, the obvious answer seems why don't you just leave? - maybe this gives a bit of an insight to that seemingly simple question

The words are sung as if they were the sweetest of sonnets, yet it sees Jessica having to confront the realities of her situation. The opening sections below are a difficult listen especially when the person believes it to be true. The final realisation of the conundrum she finds herself in, is the same one seemingly repeated across the globe.

"Don't call if you're gonna talk like that

Said it once then I took it back

Cos I'm afraid of losing him

So I'm driving by his house again

They say love ain't supposed to hurt

But I couldn't think of anything worse

So when he's kissing me in the back seat

Anything he does could've made me weak.

I hate the way the talks to me

I hate it more when we don't speak

Cos words they cut like knives

It's a thrill to me I'm still alive!

It don't make sense but I'm in to deep

My friends ask me who I want to be

Well, I'm my own worst enemy,

I love things that are bad - bad for me."

To hear such dark words sung so sweetly makes for such a powerful statement.

The controlling nature of the relationship is explained

"He makes me believe, believe it that I'm broken

And that only he can fix it"

The first half of the final chorus where the piano volume drops and leaves Jessica, almost solo, up front in the mix, makes for an uneasy vulnerable listen.

The EP closes with "Loser", with Jessica on the front foot in a most assertive way, this is a Jessica freed and she is revelling in it. After the gentle piano melodies of the previous track, this final track is up front and in your face

There's a swagger to Jessica's delivery, the joy in which she pronounces "Loser" with a high pitched sign off.

"I'm better off, I'm moving on

You didn't believe it but look who's gone

Thank God for cutting me loose

It's better to lose a lover than love a loser!"

There's a self confidence on display so she can quite happily live without

"The one who thought I'd break when he said "Goodbye"

An EP that deserves your attention on lots of levels, some of it reflects the dark side of relationships, however maybe it needs someone to be brutally honest for others to realise the situation that they themselves are in. It is never anything less than compelling and already we cannot wait for Jessica to translate these songs into live performances on her forthcoming UK tour. Jessica Sevier definitely one to watch.