There’s a fine line between stripped down music and so stripped back that is sounds empty. On Mirrors and Smoke, Nicole Alexis lands comfortably on the right side of that line, delivering a debut EP that leans into simplicity without losing its emotional weight. Built around acoustic arrangements and minimal production, the EP feels intentionally close. It feels like these songs written for a room rather than a stage. That intimacy works in Nicole Alexis’ favor, especially given her background in performing looped, stripped-down covers. Here, that same approach is turned inward, focusing on her own experiences and voice.
Tracks like “Don’t Tell Me To Breathe” and “Just A Friend” highlight her strength as a songwriter. The melodies are clean and immediate, drawing from the same lineage as Dashboard Confessional and Jimmy Eat World, while maintaining a modern, more self produced edge. There’s a clarity to the songwriting that’s emotionally direct, but not overly polished. This makes the material feel grounded and real rather than overly dramatic.
“Runner,” particularly in its acoustic form, captures the EP’s core identity. It’s restrained but not passive, allowing space for the vocal performance to carry the weight. Nicole Alexis doesn’t overreach vocally, but keeps things controlled and conversational, which suits the tone of the record. That restraint is both the EP’s biggest strength and its one limitation. The consistent acoustic approach gives Mirrors and Smoke a cohesive feel, but it also means the songs sometimes blend together on first listen. There aren’t many sharp dynamic shifts or standout sonic moments to break things apart, which can make the middle of the EP feel a little uniform.
With that being said, what stands out most is the intent behind the release. This isn’t an artist hiding behind production or trying to manufacture emotion. It’s someone clearly comfortable presenting their work in its most exposed form. That kind of honesty can be risky, but here it pays off. The DIY aspect adds another layer of appeal. Knowing that Nicole Alexis handles her own writing, production, and performance gives the EP a sense of ownership that comes through in the music itself. It doesn’t feel filtered or overworked just real.
Mirrors and Smoke isn’t trying to be massive or genre defining. It’s smaller than that, more personal. But within that space, it succeeds by staying focused on what matters most. Clear songwriting, honest delivery, and a willingness to keep things simple when they don’t need to be anything more and I’m here for it. And for a debut, that’s more than enough.
