Everyone knows that life is full of lessons. Not everyone knows, however, how to channel those lessons and the emotions that come with them into impactful music. That’s what WHIPPED CREAM has done with her new EP, is this real?imbuing a new dimension to her sound.

The project, she says, was penned during the “darkest time” of her life.

“I think many times people ask themselves in good or bad situations, ‘Is this really happening? Is this really my life?'” WHIPPED CREAM said in a press release. “During that dark point I had to find all the blessings in my life and hold on tight, know that God had the best intentions for me, and that everything was happening for a reason.”

The EP starts off with “real 4 me,” a collaboration with BKAYE that mourns a past relationship. Asking the age-old question of what went wrong, the two create a spritely dreamscape wrapped in a four-on-the-floor beat. WHIPPED CREAM follows with “about you,” exploring the wild speculation and painful nostalgia associated with the emotions of its predecessor. A hyperactive beat takes over at the drop, with Showjoe spitting lyrics that highlight the helplessness of wanting a lost love back.

“Promises” (with Trent Madison) illuminates the post-breakup questioning of whether or not you really knew someone. WHIPPED CREAM, in its own ethereal vocal tone, asks point-blank, “How long ’til you tell me who you are?”

Perhaps the most striking track of the EP is less so a song for a dancefloor, and more so a lament on WHIPPED CREAM’s part. “Is this real? (interlude)” harkens back to her father’s stage-four prostate cancer diagnosis, the vulnerable track serving as a vehicle to express her mental processes. After a voicemail sample from her dad, she repeatedly chants, “In a moment it could all go away,” giving us a moment of introspection to contemplate the phrase’s weight. Later she expresses, “I’d rather feel this way than nothing,” sending a powerful and emotionally validating message.

WHIPPED CREAM.

Tatum MacLean

Next comes “still,” which follows in the impassioned footsteps of the preceding tracks, but with a curiously hopeful tone. A euphoric melody and hopeful message lie within WHIPPED CREAM’s vocals, marking an emotional turning point in the process of working through unfortunate situations.

At the end of the EP, the woozy track “life is not a crime” finds Sjayy spitting a bold and lustful message that juxtaposes WHIPPED CREAM’s wistful vocals, repeatedly begging, “Let me love you.” Lastly, “love is not enough” starts with a downtempo beat before bringing the project home with an intense drum & bass sequence.

The release of is this real? comes ahead of WHIPPED CREAM’s North American tour in the fall. Check out the new EP below and find it on streaming platforms here.