Released on January 19, Eliza McLamb’s first full-length release Going Through It sees her pressing a finger into her wounds, channeling ragged truth and unfettered emotion into all twelve tracks. The singer-songwriter writes confessional lyrics set to indie-folk instrumentation, creating a sound that is at once soothing yet frank in its directness. 

Beginning with the otherworldly intro “Before”, listeners wade into the experience to the sound of McLamb humming. She wistfully recalls the feeling of childhood innocence, paired with the futility of trying to live in the “before” times, when moments were full of possibility.

The singles “Glitter” and “Mythologize Me” follow, thrumming with electric guitar and a touch more angst. In “Mythologize Me”, McLamb bemoans her desire to be fantasized about, the only thing that can save her from being the way she really is. Each line takes us through a complex path of emotions that are constantly clashing - she wants to be mythologized, but then shakes her head at her reliance on the male gaze:

“Make me in your perfect image of a girl / Batshit crazy / All I need is you to turn my world right side up again/ What would I ever do without men?”

McLamb has a particular talent for capturing a novel’s worth of connotations with a simple phrase. In “Punch Drunk”, she portrays volumes of emotion and defines the relationship she’s singing about in one stroke: 

“With my hands in my pockets/ Standing like a little sister/ know you like me a little better when I beg”

Similarly in “Anything You Want”, McLamb turns the meaning of the phrase on its head by implying she’s not anything one would want, like an “outlet mall parking lot” or “Everclear on the rocks”. Clearly, she’s not without humor, either, and while the song is somewhat self-deprecating, it doesn't take itself too seriously.

“16” is a heart-wrenching track, with McLamb at her most exposed and vulnerable. Unsettling in its honesty, she recounts the struggles of her 16-year-old self and the listener must confront the sheer wave of pain she felt at an age so young. Not meant to be easy listening, but important in its own right, “16” is a feat of pure candor and channeling of suffering that suggests a rush of catharsis.

“Strike” and “To Wake Up” lift up the end of the album to end on a hopeful note. “Strike” is surprisingly soft, with McLamb opening herself to a new love, learning to trust and teaching herself not to flinch. Perhaps, this time, the other shoe never drops. In “To Wake Up”, McLamb sings through her unremarkable daily routine, which she reminds us is a gift.

Simultaneously heavy and gentle, Eliza McLamb unburdens it all in her album, and like in life, the painful lives right next to the breathtakingly beautiful and the mundane.

You can listen to Going Through It here on Spotify as well as connect with Eliza on Instagram, X and TikTok.