Hope Vista Releases ‘The EP’: Listen Here

There is a bevy of talented up-and-coming artists trying to break into the industry, and the latest gem is Hope Vista. Hailing from New Jersey, the young singer (she’s only 20!) is pursuing her dream of becoming the next big name in Pop. Her debut EP, playfully titled The EP – is acoustic-driven and quite vulnerable.

Opening the EP is “Down In Wonderland” – which bring the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland into the modern times. Arguably the strongest song on the project, it jumps straight it with sharp guitar licks and a steady drum bass that anchors the singer’s light vocals. Vista’s saccharine tone has a slight folkloric edge to it, which pairs well with the fairy tale-inspired theme.

Another highlight is “Heart of Darkness,” an acoustic song which tells a tragic story of her friend who was killed by a drunk driver. The lyrics are heartfelt and Vista reflects her anguish through her vocals, which have a Taylor Swift-esque air to them.

Overall, The EP is a fairly solid debut effort. Hope Vista has a strong enough backing with her lyrics, but at times her voice is too delicate and bright for her subject matter. If she can bring forth more raw emotion with her vocals and her production as well as expand her lyricism to rid itself from oft-cliched themes, there’s no doubt that Hope Vista can shine among her fellow pop stars of today.

Listen to all four songs after the jump!

Hope Vista – The EP

The EP is Hope Vista’s first EP as a bonafied pop artist. In the past, she has opened for Aaron Carter and also made it past the first round of the X Factor USA. “Heart of Darkness,” one of the more emotional songs on the EP, has been featured on 10 radio stations to raise the awareness on the dangers of drunk driving.

Hope Vista cites artists like Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Joan Jett and Avril Lavigne as inspirations, which can be heard through her mix of pop/rock melodies. Her first single, “Take The Hit,” was released without a contract worldwide in 2011 by Island Def Jam Digital.

Like what you hear? Then be sure to follow Hope Vista on Twitter and “like” her official Facebook page!