As I’ve grown older it’s begun to dawn on me that the key to happiness is learning to find comfort in the life you’re living. No more constant comparisons to the lives those around you are leading, no more lingering too long on regrets & what-ifs, no more holding on to the idea that “one day, things will all be different“. Life isn’t about the big picture, it’s all in the everyday. Most of our time spent on this Earth is ordinary, and all of that time is spent as ourselves. Making peace with who you are, what you truly need, and how you want to spend your days. Accepting the things you can’t change, and being wise enough to recognise the parts you can and should. That’s the way to contentment. There’s A Time, the debut EP from singer/songwriter Yoshika Colwell, provides an idyllic little oasis of said contentment for anyone in search of it. Thanks in no small part to the lightness and grace of her vocals, the warmth and tenderness of her folk arrangements, and the soft naturalistic approach to production that makes you feel like you’re there holding your breath in the corner of the recording studio. Yet beyond all that, contained in these five tracks, are Yoshika’s own musings on making this journey of self-reflection.

‘It’s Getting Late‘ turns existential dread into existential comfort; revelling in how we’re just a small fleeting piece of this vast vibrant world that rises and falls around us. The idea that every moment, no matter how seemingly humdrum, becomes miraculous in the grand scheme of things. That time you enjoy wasting isn’t wasted time. The heavenly rise and fall of ‘Please’ captures the importance of recognising unhealthy habits in relationships and putting the work in to make a change for the better, while the sombre wistful Bon Iver-esque ‘Adelaide’ turns that same critical eye inwards in order to uncover thoughts and feelings that are hard to acknowledge, and even harder to express. Its rawness really captures the cathartic clarity of finally trusting your gut and being your true self. ‘Jump Right In’ reflects on the connections we forge in youth, when we felt everything more deeply and hadn’t yet become so jaded, guarded and bitter, and the lessons we can take from them even long after they’ve ended. The expressive bass on the title track, the soft piano that shimmers like the setting sun upon the sea, ending the EP on a hopeful note of acceptance and tranquility. Yoshika’s work is like a soothing balm for the soul, a place to still your mind and open your heart, music to make every day spent living life in the slow lane feel miraculous.

Yoshika Colwell’s debut EP There’s A Time is out now, and is perfect for fans of Laura Marling, Billie Marten and Lucy Rose