Written by: Lilianna Gracia
Avery Cochrane has struck the music industry with her new EP, Male Validation and Other Drugs, and continues to make waves. From blowing up on TikTok to now performing at festivals, Avery is the one to watch. The EP fills in the gaps of her previous singles perfectly, telling a story everyone can clearly see as she embarks on her journey to be the next pop girl obsession.
Starting with a fun dance-pop sound that makes you want to get up and scream alongside the lyrics, “Griever” is a striking opening to Avery’s EP that makes an impact in all the right ways. Already out for the world to listen to ahead of the EP’s release, the song is a perfect introduction to the sounds and themes of the record. As discussed in our article with Avery, the singer mentioned the main lyric, “I even got fired as the restaurant singer”, being a true antidote from her notes app. All around,the song highlights Avery’s strength as a storyteller, with lyrics that both feel vivid and conversational. Almost as if you are in the moment with her telling someone these lyrics. One of my standout lines is, “You turned a short film into a four-length feature,” perfectly capturing the feeling of how a small moment can spiral into something bigger. Overall, the song reflects on the anger after a relationship when things go wrong, leaving you asking: What is the full story behind the song?
Leaning into a mellower tone compared to the opening track, “Loneliness in Numbers” is a pop ballad that listeners can connect with. Carried with a steady beat and a strong bass pushing the song forward, the track shows a more vulnerable side of love. While still having a sense of heartbreak lingering, the lyrics lean into a quiet loneliness that comes with losing someone and being afraid of what is next. Lines like “just wanted somebody to know me, but was too afraid to ask” capture the feeling perfectly, highlighting the fear and hesitation that come with people opening up. The bridge stands out as a defining moment in the song, tying everything together.
Bringing a more upbeat sound while contemplating the need to make a relationship work, “Losing Streak” encompasses the feeling of something finally slipping through your fingers despite trying your hardest to keep it alive. The track carries a determination,whilst making it clear that the decisions to try are slowly making you fall apart. Specifically, the lyric “suffer for the sake of saying we made it far”, encapsulated the emotional, reflecting nature of the song to keep pushing something to prove it was worth the effort. “Losing Streak” explores the painful realization that comes when everything finally falls, clinging to the idea of what once was, and watching something so dear slowly kill you.
“Sex, Etc.” feels cinematic and conversational in a different way than “Griever”. With a slight funk within the bass and guitar that makes you feel it belongs in a slow club 2000s movie scene, the song uses phenomenal harmonies that make it easy to remember. Catchy to its core, the song explores how the need to give someone intimacy can make you feel less, playing into the male validation of it all. “Desperate for the connection, you’re not feeling the love” really highlights the tension of longing for a connection,, but it being meaningless at the end of the day.
As the title track, “Male Validation and Other Drugs” truly encompasses the feeling women have after chasing male validation “I don’t like my body, so I let the boys have it” summarizes it all. Needing someone to give you the attention you’re looking for, especially in an intimate way, pushes the song forward in its lyrics. The track goes into the cycle of needing reassurance while mentally dealing with your own self worth. This tension, turning into a desire to feel wanted, tells its story in the song.
Another strong dance-pop contender for your summer playlist is the EP’s lead single, “Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night”, which encapsulates the sinking feeling of molding oneself to fit perfectly into a crowd. While especially touching on the feeling of losing yourself to making yourself the ideal image, the song shows the existential dream of it all. “Will she waste into the kind of woman everyone likes?” fits this in question: Are you really doing that? Strategically using “she” instead of “I” makes it feel like that person is disconnected from who she really is. The shapeshifter and the real person become two different people in the same body.
To wrap it all up, a slow ending with “Oh, Mercy!” fits all the emotions and feelings that embody the entirety of the EP. “Oh great creator, tell her she’ll be fine,really playing into the mercy of it all. From start to finish, it serves as a fitting conclusion, gently resolving the emotional turmoil carried throughout the project.
Overall, Avery Cochrane is rising into the pop scene with her hard-hitting, relatable lyrics and infectious melodies, and her newest EP, Male Validation and Other Drugs, is the perfect new pop sound everyone needs on their playlist. Make sure to listen to the EP where you stream music and follow Avery’s journey to be the next big pop girl!
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