‘Parasite’ by Daniel Higley is a 6-track synth pop-rock odyssey that feels hypnotic, subdued and almost haunting. Its soundscape feels sparse and moody, with guitars and percussion that seem to pull you in with unique melodies and rhythms that grow denser as each song progresses. 

‘The Blah’ highlights this deep sense of frustration in its lyrics, detached but dynamic. The song’s sparse rhythms set the tone for the rest of the EP perfectly,  drawing us into the soundscapes’ melodies with ease. 

‘The Witch Inside (Angel in Disguise)’ keeps this up, with quirky rhythms layered under melodies that feel light and almost airy. From the first song’s frustration to the second one’s wistful reminisce, the ‘Parasite’ EPs themes feel prudent, documenting observations that feel familiar and close to visceral. 

‘Indecision’ keeps this up with its prominent percussion and moody build. It reckons with the undeniable demands of being human, connecting this experience of familiar indecision that comes from living in the day-to-day.   “…What more do you want from me?…”. 

“…Your soul, your mind, your heart…”. 

‘Birds Fly Away – Interlude’ attempts to take a breather from the intense emotions that seem to build in its soundscape. The narrator seems to be experiencing a moment of clarity on this track. Using this clarity to validate their journey, while encouraging this sense of letting go more intentionally. 

“…In this life, some things stay, some things fly away…

…Let go of the things that don’t matter…”. 

This is before the song fades out to quirky rhythms, harkening the sound of ‘The Witch Inside (Angel in Disguise)’, almost as though we’re revisiting its themes. 

From here, we jump into ‘The Witch Inside (Look In the Mirror)’, a song that feels meditative and heady, almost dissociative. But not laced with the frustration or spiralling anxiety of ‘The Blah’ and  ‘The Witch Inside (Angel in Disguise)’. 

The song holds in it the clarity from ‘Birds Fly Away – Interlude’ that’s slowly making its way back to the narrator’s headspace. 

The final track on the ‘Parasite’ EP, ‘I Am With You’ begins with this mood of unease, brought on by distorted, intense synths. The first half of the song builds this intense soundscape, with all its swirling moodiness, before slowly grounding the melodies towards tender piano melodies. 

On this track, the narrator finally lets go, appealing to that familiar moment when one simply puts down their weight and responsibilities for a moment before taking a breath. 

“…I understand the weight. 

And for an afternoon,

I escape…”.

Listen to Daniel Higley’s  ‘Parasite’ EP on Spotify: