Following her acclaimed 2020 album Get Well Soon, Perth-based singer-songwriter St South (Olivia Gavranich) returns with an introspective, soul bearing five-track EP Big Sads. Known for her more sleek bedroom pop sound, Gavranich’s previous releases blended moments of shimmering, danceable pop with the occasional heartbreaker. With Big Sads, she’s peeled back the layers producing something rawer and more vulnerable—undeniably shaped by the loss of her father. Make no mistake, Big Sads as its title suggests is a deep dive into grief and finding a way to the other side, delicately pulling at universal emotional threads and unravelling with a therapeutic quality.
The title track, “Big Sads”, opens with stuttering, swelling reverses that give way to bittersweet piano keys. Gavranich’s angelic vocals gently whispers “You’ve been feeling big sads, maybe we can fix that,” suggesting that change is not inevitable. The arrangement quickly builds, introducing thumpy drum loops and a subtle bassline that feels like the emergence of hope from sadness. The song could easily take a more emotional turn, but whether intentional or not the song feels more like recovery in real time, like a light at the end of a tunnel. St South’s ability to craft such a feeling is what makes this song stand out, amplified by a tender voice. The vocals are full of warmth and traverse the lyrics like a comforting hand, guiding you out of the “big sads” with a simple message: “come for a walk with me, I’ve got you.”
The second track, “A Good Year”, continues in this vein, pairing soft piano with delicate vocals. While the song’s instrumental might come off as subtle, the lyrical content delivers a stronger emotional punch. Lyrics like “I just want a good year, a few months out in the clear” and “I miss falling and waking up, I keep dreaming that it will stop” capture the EP’s core themes of navigating emotional devastation. The juxtaposition of heartache and hope is masterfully handled here, as Gavranich walks the fine line between being too specific while remaining undeniably universal. The track feels poignant, honest and raw, delivering something that will be poignant for listeners who’ve experienced loss.
So Many Places marks a shift to a more mid-tempo feel, offering upbeat sounds paired with bittersweet lyrics. The song, centring on a former relationship and the difficulty of revisiting shared places, showcases some of Gavranich’s strongest writing. “There’s so many places we can’t go for ages and ages,” she sings, balancing dancy indie-pop grooves with an underlying lyrical sadness. The third track in proves an effortless blend of catchiness and lyrical quality that has become a staple so far.
The fourth track, “Better Days”, brings a noticeable shift in production. This high-end pop tune leans into more modern vocal effects and a sharp, polished sound. It’s a call for “better days,” standing somewhere between a love song and an emotional cry for renewal. While the track differs stylistically from the rest of the EP, it still maintains the emotional weight, offering more on the production end. The production, while pristine, sacrifices some of the rawness that makes the earlier tracks so emotionally potent, but it works well as a palate cleanser.
“Didn’t Need You” brings the EP to a close, mixing delicate piano with chorus-soaked guitars and a drum loop. Here, Gavranich taps into a more triumphant evaluation of moving on focusing on the moment you’re free from someone or something that holds emotional sway over you. The repeated lines of “I didn’t need you,” in the chorus are as unambiguous as it comes. Focusing more on the strength of independence and growth instead of navigating grief, this one offers a different kind of catharsis but still lives within the process of letting go or getting over.
What sets Big Sads apart is the way St South marries lyrical vulnerability with her tonal production that feels careful and understated, yet deeply moving. Gavranich should also be celebrated for her ability to craft lyrics that are both concise and universal, somehow very specific and yet inviting to everyone else.
As a whole, the EP is heavy on theme—grief, letting go, and emotional recovery—but its beauty lies in recognising what it isn’t. There are no high-production, custom made festival singalongs or radio-pop dance bangers here. Instead, Big Sads offers a tender, reflective journey and one that follows an artist to a low place, and we’re with them until hope is found on the other side. The production is tight, the writing is poignant, and the EP is a wonderful example of the strength of Australian indie music. It’s a charge into sadness and the therapy session that comes with it—and we’re all the better for it.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Big Sads is out today. Grab it HERE
Header image credit: Suzanna Gaunt
