Every once in a while, a song comes along that, for three minutes (and four seconds) takes your mind off what you’re spending far too much time dwelling on and allows you to just let loose.
The latest single from Eylsia Nicolas is exactly that. It just came out less than three weeks ago and has all the makings of a song that you can expect to stick around for quite a while.
“A Beautiful Mess” is a fun pop/dance track. As I listened to it, I pictured someone playing it while getting themselves ready to go out on a Friday night and then playing it again in the car on their way to the club, and then the club spinning it inside to a full dance floor. As it should to fit into those scenes, it has a great commercial sound – even a hint of Lady Gaga in the pre-chorus.
As far as the song’s composition is concerned, there’s a lot to unravel too. That complexity is a good thing because it opens itself up to a wider appeal, meaning that different audiences are going to latch onto and connect with different aspects that I’ll describe.
For starters, the upbeat tempo is a nice contrast to something being a mess, as the title implies. Then again, as with film projects, there has to be tension. That is successfully created here and the way to let loose out of it is to dance it out.
Consider lyrically, “I fell in love when I knew it was wrong.” This sounds like it should be in a ballad, yet the melody isn’t heavy and doesn’t make you unhappy. “I whisper No but my soul screams Yes.” It’s this back and forth that holds your attention like a ball going back and forth across the net during a long volley in a tennis match. And that is a terrific carryover from the artist’s athletic career.
Eylsia Nicolas was the winner of the Irish Open at age 14 and competed at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open before an injury put an end to competing in her sport.
Just like the rhythm of “A Beautiful Mess” that can only encourage you to get up and move, what an inspirational story she has.
After a Covid-19 vaccination she had permanent lung loss and a severe respiratory problem. Her singing was over – or so she thought. Her voice was restored, and her music made its way onto the charts.
With that backstory, now you will listen to this new track and wonder which love she is referring to – tennis, music, or what you might have first thought until you learned about all that she has overcome.
With 183 thousand followers on Instagram, she clearly has a strong foothold in pulling listeners out of their seat the way that a tennis pro does with a highlight reel match-ending return.
Also inspiring to up-and-coming performers is the fact that she isn’t content to merely have commercial success with a song, such as “A Beautiful Mess.” According to her website, “Beyond her music, she continues to advocate for fellow musicians by donating a portion of her royalties to support artists’ welfare.”
The lesson in that? When you do have success with one or more of your songs, give serious consideration to paying it forward.
Clearly, the rocky road for Eylsia Nicolas has gotten nicely paved. She is hoping to do a concert tour after a product world tour for the luxury brand Nicolas of Palm Beach and the mass brand Real Boxer.
It’s a lot to take in. I know. But listen to “A Beautiful Mess” and let its rhythm excite you and then be inspired by the artist’s personal journey and craft your musical answer that will get your audiences up and moving.
Remember, as so many guests have said on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast, even if you just get one person to feel something, your song is a success.
Now a Member of the Recording Academy, I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more for more than twenty years. What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to? Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.