The cat’s out of the bag with Thomas Glick’s debut EP, ‘Pretty Kitty’

With only a few months of releases under its belt, 2023 has already proved itself to be a musical force to be reckoned with, sheathing a wide array of releases from the biggest names in the industry to the newest up-and-coming artists. However, amongst all the beautiful melodic chaos, this year has also produced some wonderful projects that have yet to gain the traction they deserve. Pretty Kitty, the debut EP by Thomas Glick, is undoubtedly a hidden gem among the grand assemblage of music this year. 

The musical emergence of Pretty Kitty and Thomas Glick himself harbor some mysterious allure; the album released back in February of 2023, yet there was no promotion or awareness of its release whatsoever, other than a post on what appears to be Glick’s Instagram nearly a month after the release. It seems like Pretty Kitty nearly appeared out of thin air and still remains relatively undiscovered, as Glick only has around 33 monthly listeners on Spotify. 

However, the content of the EP itself is much more noteworthy than it’s been given credit for. Thomas Glick’s debut is a fascinating slice of laid-back summertime served up just as the winter started to defrost into the spring. Pretty Kitty combines a suave indie-bedroom-pop sound, alongside optimistic lofi hip hop beats to create an ambience of pure relaxation and serendipity. The production is stunning, with smooth kicks, synths, and plucks akin to something from potsu or Jeremy Zucker’s older works. 

The opening track “Nowimnothingnew” starts off with a serene, warm feel that makes the listener almost melt into the track itself. It starts the album off with what feels like a beautiful early morning sunrise. It’s a fun and fresh track and successfully builds excitement for the rest of the project.

While primarily electronic, hints of Glick’s instrumental abilities are also showcased throughout the EP; the track “Tillitsover” showcases hypnotizing guitar strumming at the forefront of the backing track, and the instrumentation enhances the song in the best way possible, solidifying it as both one of the best of Glick’s tracks and a fitting conclusion for Pretty Kitty. The production on Glick’s delicate debut feels just like an evening at the beach just before the sun begins to set, and it's impossible to listen to it without feeling relaxed.

The EP’s vocals are heavily autotuned, and overall it works for the laid-back vibe Glick creates. The title track “Pretty Kitty” showcases the best combination of vocals and production from the upcoming artist; it feels heartfelt and somber while still remaining hopeful all the same. Glick specializes in conveying incredibly specific emotional endeavors in each and every one of his songs. While in future works it would be nice to hear more raw vocals coming from Thomas Glick to further his emotional depth and versatility, the mood and tone of Pretty Kitty is strongly defined by its striking vocals and production. 

While a short and sweet EP lasting just over nine minutes, Thomas Glick’s musical debut Pretty Kitty is a must-listen release for chill indie lovers. While Glick may still remain a hidden gem, his music is a gold mine that is simply waiting to be uncovered. With a strong start to his career, fans can only hope there’s more to come and more to learn with Thomas Glick.