I first heard Emma Bradley‘s “Serotonin Skies” back in February. Its Imogen Heap-styled vocal and haunting, intricate instrumentals felt like a warm blanket next to a fireplace during the darkest, coldest time of year. There’s a cathartic quality to the song that kept drawing me back. As I heard more from her second EP Winona’s World, I dove into Bradley’s story, which adds depth and context to this collection of songs.
Winona’s World nearly didn’t happen. Bradley’s label severed ties with her last year, a blow that shook the London-based singer-songwriter to the core. It took a viral TikTok moment—a 15-second improvised piano snippet titled “Emma’s Theme”—to reignite her confidence. “I posted this… at like 23:00 before bed. I didn’t think anything of it, and it kind of blew up,” she told Far Out.
This newfound independence shapes Winona’s World, her first fully self-produced project, channeling her struggles with loss, loneliness, abandonment, queerness, and mental health through a character named Winona. “I gave her all of my darkest, scariest feelings and let her talk about them in a way that I myself maybe would not have been able to explore,” Bradley shares in the press kit.
The six-track EP’s cinematic soundscapes, crafted in her living room with the help of collaborators on drums, bass, and strings, amplify what Bradley calls “shadows of a feeling.” Themes of emotional isolation and resilience resonate throughout. The production throughout the EP matches the lush, careful craft of “Serotonin Skies,” but the lyrics form the heart of the project. “Bad Apple” explores betrayal and disappointment, with lyrics reflecting a sense of being let down by someone once trusted, while “Let Me In” offers a tender plea to a struggling loved one, emphasizing support and presence.
Each listen of Winona’s World has revealed new layers, from its haunting melodies to the raw vulnerability in Bradley’s words. I don’t often connect with music this far on the pop end of the dial, but this EP grabbed me far more strongly than I expected. Bradley’s resilience and determination is inspiring, and it sounds a dark and difficult episode in her music career has produced her best work to date.
