by Giliann Karon (@lethalrejection)
Hannah Liuzzo, formerly of the indie pop trio Lilith, craved a change of scenery. She left Boston for the West Coast, trekking across Oregon and California before ultimately settling in Los Angeles. Under the name little bit, her EP talk a blue streak provides the soundtrack for driving endless stretches of highway tucked between sky-scraping mountains on a quest for self-discovery. Through saccharine whispers and dreamy instrumentals, she acknowledges her past – including her background as a trained flute player, which plays an ancillary role in “on the mend” – while giddily anticipating the future.
“The idea of starting over in a new city was exciting and scary, and I knew that if I didn’t leave the place I grew up to write a new chapter, I’d always regret it,” she disclosed in a press release for “long drive.” The breezy song meanders through bouts of insecurity but ultimately surrenders to new experiences. Her skepticism is palpable, but when she perseveres, her new identity flourishes.
Opener “lead you on” boasts an assertive four-on-the-flour drumbeat, evoking the sort of confidence you have to fake when embarking on an ambitious personal transformation. “You wanted any kind of outcome you could draw / I've got to take control of it,” she softly affirms to quell the blaring self-doubt. Galloping pop melodies cocoon her snarl, which shakes but never quits.
Luizzo approaches a critical inflection point and chooses to leave what she knows behind in favor of personal growth, no matter how overwhelming it feels. On six confessional tracks, she assures herself there’s an entire world of opportunity beyond the confines of the parameters she’s drawn.