Twinnie ‘Hollywood Gypsy’ (Reimagined) EP Review

About a year ago, British country-pop singer-songwriter by the name of Twinnie released her debut studio record Hollywood Gypsy. The album was made up of 12 different tracks and was a huge success as it went No. 1 on the UK iTunes Country Chart. Twinnie later re-released the album in its entirety with an all-acoustic version of each song. Now, Twinnie is back with an EP titled Hollywood Gypsy (Reimagined) where she gave five of the original songs a fresh, new twist in their sound.

Right from the start, Twinnie shows off versatility with the first song on the EP: a reinvention of her song Better When I’m Drunk. The new version starts off with the familiar iPhone sounds of the taps on the keyboard and the whoosh sound that rings out when you send a text message. Better When I’m Drunk (Reimagined) is melancholic, soulful, and gives Twinnie’s voice the time to sparkle. The original is filled with loud, blaring guitars but the reimagined track is the opposite with a piano that plays haunting chords. There is something raw about Twinnie’s sound in this new take of the song; she sounds like she’s singing by herself in the back of a rundown bar in dim lighting, pouring her heart out to strangers willing to listen. The song is more drawn out. The reimagined track is over four minutes long while the original doesn’t even make it to the three minute mark. This is an excellent and strong start to a clearly thought-out body of work.

The reimagined version of the title track Hollywood Gypsy is a fun, vivacious autobiography as Twinnie sings, “Everybody knows my name / They named me after my Aunt Jane / I’m my daddy’s claim to fame / From a house on wheels to an aeroplane.” The original tune has a twang to it while the latest version is more lively and fast-paced. It has pop synths and retro-sounding currents throughout; it feels western but with a hint of old-school hip-hop. Another unmistakable facet of the song is the chanting voices in the background yelling, “Half Hollywood, half gypsy” adding to the song a sense of confidence.

The EP ends with “Feeling of Falling (Reimagined),” a perfect closer. It is bright, charismatic, and gives listeners a feeling of unashamed joy. While it is slightly different from the original, the reimagined is similar in tempo and style, but both do a great job of conveying the song’s message. The lyrics on the song are relatable as Twinnie sings about not being consumed by worry and teaching herself to be free. “Fear of the unknown / Learning to let go / Even when you don’t feel safe.” This song feels like it should be played at the end of a coming of age film when the main character meets the resolution. The ending to Hollywood Gypsy (Reimagined) is a celebration with a burst of bright colors and a sensation of ambition. Listen here.

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