New EP from Ocean Pleasant

Originally hailing from the city of Houston and now based in the island setting of Honolulu, Ocean Pleasant is a talented twenty-seven year old artist who blends her musical output with an array of her interests. Her musical journey first started in ninth grade when she stumbled upon a camp counselor’s ukulele, igniting a creative spark that would shape her path as a singer-songwriter.

Her debut single, “Love Letter to Myself,” propelled her into the spotlight in 2015 with its profound message of self-acceptance. Following up her first single with her debut EP the next year, she’s since shared multiple well-received tracks over the years while collaborating with knight and Chance Peña along the way.

Over the years, Ocean’s music has earned widespread acclaim, including performances alongside Grammy-winning band SOJA as well as being featured in Sweet Magnolias on Netflix and several spots on MTV. Now she brings us her latest release with her new sophomore EP titled Ungrateful Daughter, a release she penned during the pandemic about the fear of repeating your parents mistakes.

After losing touch with her own mother, she felt the urge to distil her emotions into a release that provides a relatable listening experience for those struggling in the grey area between resentment and respect for parents. Produced by Tyler Thompson, mixed by Kyle Mangles and mastered by Dale Becker, Ungrateful Daughter serves up Ocean Pleasant’s bright and breezy indie sound that flows between acoustic pop and folk rock stylings to present a dazzling new chapter in her sonic adventure.

Opened by “First Ring,” the soft strums of acoustic guitar and airy key tones craft an intimate sound as the rustling snap of the beat injects a mellow energy. Ocean’s elegant voice floats in to spin subtly boucny melodies above carrying poignant lyricism about losing a connection with a loved one while be acutely aware of the fact you’d still do anything for them. Building with grooving energy and lightly crunchy guitar tones, the chorus threads a catchy indie pop sound capped by a dancing vocal display.

“Sky is Less Blue” captures a downtempo folk sound of gentle guitar plucks, the hushed pulse of a kick drum and Ocean’s alluring vocal leads. Taking flight with lively strums, intricate lead note flutters, laid back rhythm and beautiful vocals that hang in the dreamy arrangement, Ocean weaves her meaningful songwriting about the lasting impact the way a parent speaks to their child can have on the rest of their life.

With “Don’t Want Kids” she decants the main theme of the EP into a superb showcase of her charming sound. Shifting between the steady rhythm and stripped-back arrangement of the verses and the faster pace and delightfully catchy hooks of the chorus, the song delivers a difficult topic in a joyous sound that’s impossible not to love. “Even (Interlude)” follows to provide an atmospheric minute long piece that sees Ocean’s graceful voice drift through a sea of reverb-drenched textures as she wrestles with feelings of forgiveness.

The EP finishes with “Off the Clock” with its staccato string notes and distant sonic flourishes wrapping around Ocean’s silky vocals as she casts an enchanting musical spell. Concluding the journey of the EP with a song about returning to a place of gratitude and positivity, she offers one final moment of her spellbinding indie folk pop sound to close her sensational new EP.

Listen to Ungrateful Daughter below