EUT

For their third LP Amsterdam alt-pop formation EUT steps into new depths, both lyrically and sonically. Created during the bulk of the corona pandemic, there were suddenly no ‘nexts’ to look forward to, inspiring the band’s singer and songwriter Megan de Klerk to attune more deeply to her inner circle.

Be My Reactor will be EUT’s first self-produced record: liberated of deadlines and the whole touring lifestyle, the band could dig their heels deeper into more experimenting. Sound-wise, the album has more in common with twilight than the bright, sun-kissed sceneries they courted before. “With which we try to pull ourselves out of that pit with sexy and personal songs.”

Within the album’s darker themes, the innate joy of reinventing the band’s sound shines through. Guitarist/producer Emiel de Nennie: “We bought all kinds of synthesizers and tried to teach myself how to write songs another way. That’s why this record sounds different, because we were caught up in all these new instruments. Megan and I laid the groundwork at home and recorded with the band together in our rehearsal space instead of hiring an expensive studio and producer.” As a result of handling the recordings themselves, EUT assigned Adam ‘Atom’ Greenspan (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party) for additional mixing to create the unique sound for this album.

This new studio-oriented dynamic reinforces what Be My Reactor is all about: engaging deeper in the act of listening, conversing and maturing, all while summoning that elusive spark of energy that connects these five different individuals as a band. Since their debut Fool For The Vibes, EUT have always had a knack for creating spry pop earworms with a restless spirit. With all musicians harboring different influences, their songs inhabit a unique patchwork of flavors, peppering sweeping melodies with strange sensations. Akin to – for example – Blur, Phoenix and Beck, EUT’s music offers a colorful surrender to life’s twists and trajectories, never afraid to turn a tune upside down with a ‘why not?’ kind of euphoria.

“On previous records, we might have wanted to dance our problems away lyrically and musically, party away with high energy songs. But during the writing process of Be My Reactor there were a lot of emotionally heavy moments that had to be placed in a song and didn't deserve to be pushed into the background.”

Periods of depression, breakups and closer friends with suicidal thoughts; these are subjects Megan tries to get to grips with lyrically. “On this record, we faced these subjects without fear and confronted them, and in doing so we have tried to break taboos for ourselves.” Indeed it took some heavy duty inner resolve, but EUT are no less wacky of a contradiction on Be My Reactor, penning effortless sounding pop gems that rib us about putting in a little more effort. “I don’t know if I can win this / but I’m fearless”, Megan defiantly sings on ‘Pink Riddles’. Still a fool for the vibes, just with a heavier heart, and a little more mileage.