A “Deep Dive” into Wallows’ new EP

One of my favorite bands of all time, Wallows, just released their third EP, More. Following their third studio album, Model, the newest EP gives Wallows fans exactly what they were hoping for—seven bangers back to back.

The EP opens with “Not Alone,” which immediately introduces Wallows’ classic sound with a synth-driven melody. The melody is quite simple and remains steady throughout the whole song, providing a great opportunity for the vocals to be the song’s main element. Braeden takes over with the opening vocals, introducing the emotion that this song holds at its core. Braeden never fails to create unique emotion through his voice, and I think this song does a great job of showing that. Specifically, in this song, his vocals establish the vulnerability woven into the beginning lyrics of the track. The lyrics take us through what seems like a falling out between two people. Through the lyrics, “It’s dark in the place where you used to be, and all I have’s a shadow that you left for me,” it’s clear that the narrator has lost someone and is reflecting on the incident. My favorite part of the song is when Dylan comes in; there’s a big build-up to this moment, and the song physically feels lighter at this point. An acoustic guitar riff is introduced, and Dylan sings with a much softer voice. His vocals sound less strained and hurt compared to Braeden’s. I feel this does a really good job at showing a sense of acceptance with whatever the narrator is going through. There’s definitely two parts to this song—turmoil and acceptance—and I really appreciated the way we, as listeners, can distinguish that simply through the tone of the melodies. I think this song was a solid opener to set the rest of the EP up.

The next track, “Deep Dive,” is easily the catchiest song on the EP. It even gets a reprise as the closing track. There’s nothing better than when a song starts with a simplistic sound and then, boom—a beat drop and a layered melody. This song does exactly that, and I ate it up. Lyrically, “Deep Dive” explores the fear of emotional vulnerability and the inevitability of opening up to someone. The main lyric, “deep dive into my mind,” suggests a pivotal moment in a relationship where both individuals let their guard down. Another thing I love? A conversation between melodies. And you guessed it—this song does just that. The pre-chorus features a conversation between Braeden and Dylan’s voices, making for an incredibly catchy part of the song. The contrast between their voices always adds extra umph to their songs, much like in “Hurts Me” from Tell Me That It’s Over and “These Days” from their debut EP, Spring. This dynamic pre-chorus builds anticipation as we get to the main chorus—which is interestingly placed at both the beginning and near the end of the song. Deep Dive defies the typical song structure in a way that keeps things fresh and exciting. If I had to pick a song to dance to off this EP, Deep Dive takes the win.

The third track, Coffin Change, is probably my favorite of the bunch. We get a classic guitar riff in this song that takes me back to the sound of their debut album, Nothing Happens, which is the album that made me fall in love with music. I always tend to be more attracted to the songs Braeden sings. I mentioned it earlier, but his ability to put complex emotion into his vocals is incredible. I think Braeden does a fantastic job at changing his voice to fit the needs of the song, and we see that clearly here. Another thing I noticed immediately when I first listened to this song was how much I loved the lyrics. If you’re looking for a song to analyze in English class, this is it. My favorite line of this song is, “If time, time will outrun me, then why do I still run?” Deep. This song explores the inevitability of time, change, mortality, how those work simultaneously, and the complexity of that relationship. Wallows never fails to make you stare at a wall and think for a minute. This song is great, and it definitely takes the leaderboard in my book.

The last song that truly deserves an analysis is “Learn to Love Again.” It’s a close second to Coffin Change, capturing a similar emotional depth but offering a more hopeful outlook. The song explores the struggle of rebuilding a damaged relationship and balancing the pain of the past with the hope of moving forward. One of the most striking aspects is its sonic progression—the intro and pre-chorus are clean and controlled, creating a sense of restraint. But once the chorus hits, the song explodes, becoming louder and messier. This shift evokes a feeling of breaking free, amplifying the narrator’s desperate desire to rediscover the love that once felt effortless. The standout lyric, “We can learn to love again,” reveals the overall theme of healing from a point of struggle in a relationship. It’s a track that anyone who has had to navigate the complexities of repairing a hurt relationship can relate to. This song is a pivotal piece of this EP, proving that Wallows knows exactly how to hit you where it hurts.

Ultimately, this EP does an incredible job of exploring the complexities we face in life. I can’t tell if I want to cry or dance. And that’s the beauty of this EP—complexity! I never doubted Wallows, but I wasn’t expecting to immediately love every single song this EP had to offer. Their ability to constantly evolve their sound is incredible, and this project proves that clearly. More showcases the lyrical geniuses behind the iconic indie-pop sound we know and love. Nobody does it like Wallows.