It is in the moments of life’s most unexpected twists and turns that one can discover new things and emerge with a fresh perspective. California singer-songwriter Bee Eigen is embracing change on her new 4-track EP, Sanguine.
Beginning with the releases of her first few singles “Tears in Bed” and “Flesh it Folds” in 2021, Sanguine is Eigen’s debut EP, and hit streaming services August 30th, 2024. It serves as an enchanting and powerful exploration of identity, transformation, and rebirth.
The first track, “Incredible Nothing,” introduces her delightful harmonies and light, delicate guitar. Inspired by time spent in isolated rural California towns, Eigen revels in the simple and changing pleasures of life. Her songwriting is poetic and reflective, as she recalls “sipping on gas station wine beneath the Calavera sky.” She finds peace in these small moments with a partner, in time spent away from the busyness of life.
“Cake” acts as a metaphor for self-love and seeking external validation. Eigen solemnly and honestly recognizes her tendency to look to others for acceptance rather than inward. “I look for signs in the gleam of your eyes / And I am ashamed to be yours and not mine.”
In “Aquarium Blue,” she grapples with the loss of old identity, trying to discover who she is in motherhood. She is seeking finality, saying “Call me alien / Call me devil / Just call me, just call me something new.” The track features haunting harmonies surrounding Eigen’s earnest search for answers.
Rounding out the four songs is “Bugs At McNear,” which acts as a final shining star. After the birth of her daughter, Eigen is recognizing the duality of life, reckoning with change, and appreciating it. “It’s good and it’s bad / It’s bitter and sweet / Knock you out cold then put you to your feet.” Her realizations are bewitching, as the chorus concludes with, “Can’t promise you’ll love every moment / But life is still worth living to me.”
Bee Eigen emulates Sanguine: looking for the bright spots in a difficult situation, appreciating the beautiful things in ever-changing times. She finds hope in new stages of life, despite the anxiety that change can bring.
Sanguine is an intoxicating and poignant first release from the Cali-folk singer-songwriter, well-suited for fans of indie voices like Phoebe Bridgers and Mazzy Star among others.
