When all the noise in the world has stopped, the thoughts which we hide tend to be the loudest ones. Nellie Feldmann transforms her private experiences of fear, reflection, love and self-discovery into a beautifully honest soundtrack for anyone who is learning to understand themselves.
Nellie Feldmann, who is from Brighton, allows listeners access to the most intimate parts of her mind through her EP *When The World Goes Quiet*, an deeply reflective assortment centred on vulnerability, emotional honesty and the quiet struggles that many people go through but usually don’t discuss.
Nellie produces a style that combines acoustic indie songwriting with the close, personal qualities typical of Generation X-style bedroom pop, giving the overall effect of something warm, nostalgic and extremely human; in her six tracks she looks at her experiences with childhood difficulties, anxiety, relationships, self-worth and the persistent noise of overthinking, turning these personal experiences into songs which provide a sense of comfort and connection. “Giving It All”, the first song, is a sincere message to her younger self, expressing the frustration she felt at school because she felt misunderstood. Nellie portrays the pressure she experienced from having to meet traditional expectations as she worked through a world that never always appreciated different ways of thinking. The song conveys a message of acceptance – a reminder that struggling does not mean failing. “Turn Down My Shine” gives the EP a more incisive tone and serves as Nellie’s statement directed at anyone who has taken quietness for weakness, while “Intrusive Thoughts” deals with one of the most difficult topics on the record in an exceptional degree of openness. The song, which is based on Nellie’s own experiences of having overwhelming thoughts and anxiety, turns fear into a message of resilience for those going through similar difficulties.
Emotional depth is also present in the entire EP; the song “No One Quite Like You” considers a significant relationship and the memories formed with someone who inspired her creativity, and “Inner Child” looks at attachment, longing and the search for comfort. The final track, “Time Slips Away”, expresses the sensation of always pursuing moments that have already passed while at the same time worrying about the future. What is special about *When The World Goes Quiet* is that Nellie is able to convert her deeply personal experiences into something that applies to everyone; the songs are not merely about her own life but provide an opportunity for listeners to think about their own thoughts, fears and memories. The EP *When The World Goes Quiet* offers a beautifully crafted glimpse into Nellie Feldmann’s world, thanks to its close production, genuine songwriting and emotional clarity. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in all its complexity — including doubts, memories, love, and the instances when silence shows us all that we have been carrying inside.
English