Lizzie Berchie Brings The Love on ‘Night Shift’ (Review)

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Making waves since 2k22, Lizzie Berchie is the neo-soul queen of Newham. A beautiful voice that knows how to express her feelings, she has shone in her short time in the music scene. With her ‘Under The Sun‘ and ‘Am I An Adult Yet?‘ EPs, she has been able to display her talents, with narrative structure to boot. Now comes project #3 in the form of ‘Night Shift‘. Following up on her last project, which won Project of the Year at The State of R’n’B Awards, was going to be a tough ask. However, Lizzie has done that with ease.

Opening the project is ‘Pressure‘, which immediately grabs your attention with its enchanting blend of orchestral elements. And that display of vocals at the start is sensational, letting you know (if you didn’t already) that she can sang. The track makes you feel like you’re in a late-night jazz club, sipping your cocktail or spirit of choice, and watching Berchie drag you into her world. This artist has a way of showing her feelings in her words and emotive singing that enraptures you. It makes for a great introduction.

Following this is the first single, ‘I Hope You Understand‘. The smooth-jazzy undertones come in alongside those soothing inflections, once again having your attention from the start. There is an almost cinematic feeling to the track with the piano pausing to help enunciate every line. Here, she is helping this person realise she must move on as this job/person has run its course. While a tale as old as time, the way it is delivered, the use of the instrumental to emphasise the impact, and of course, those high notes, truly sell this gorgeous number.

‘Love Deep‘ featuring the EP’s only guest, Filah Lah Lah was also a prior release. The drums and more jumpy piano give this one a bit more energy, matched by the more upbeat vocals. This track is as the title suggests about joy and unconditional passion, which Lizzie shows in her delivery. The guest’s soothing pitched-down vocals delivered in a slightly erratic fashion, provide something different while still fitting thematically. With the choir vocals as ad-libs (a lovely touch), it gives this song the seasoning on top. This is one is truly for the lovers out there.

Next up is the final teaser, ‘Company‘. The drum pattern is a lot more subtle, but the more emotive and energetic piano lays the foundations. With the words, “I’ve fallen deep / I really, really like your company.”, we can see, as well as hear that Lizzie is in love. While I am not someone who has ever experienced such a feeling, I imagine it feels the way that is displayed here. Continuing to highlight how special this person/thing is and emote through a mixture of soothing and higher note vocals, it is a nice continuation from the previous track.

As we enter the second half, ‘Moonlight‘ is definitely a late-night jam. The piano, guitar, and drums truly have a mesmerising effect that makes you want to sway. Hitting the highest note so far with, “I ain’t ever gonna find a love like this.”, you can see the passion and romance. It is a short, but sweet moment where as Lizzie states herself, her head is in the clouds over this love.

We then take things down a bit, with the more mellow and saxophone-backed sounds of ‘Dance In Your Arms‘. No longer swaying, more so a waltz, the singer continues to express her desire for this person/thing. The more angelic singing and ethereal instrumental show she is seeing her opportunity and enjoying the moment. The passion is still there, but as the moment draws near, she is relaxed and ready to enjoy herself.

Closing us out is ‘Happiness‘, which starts with a staggered, but energetic drum beat and some lovely angelic, echoing vocals. As the singer states very plainly, she has found her happiness and is loving life. This project has been a great journey, but for the audience and the artist, it has reached a satisfying conclusion. The singing on display is top-notch from a sound and emotional point of view. The violins that come in halfway through also emphasise this feeling of joy that things have worked out. Everyone loves a happy ending, and that is what Berchie has gotten here.

The project is about this artist’s struggles of managing music with a 9-to-5, highlighting her passion for music. While I did not realise this at first, her songwriting ability is a testament to her talents. It also speaks to the multiple ways the listener can perceive music. Whether you see this about breaking through to that person you want or that career you desire, it expresses passion in a profound manner.

For me, this was a fabulous display. This is a talented artist who knows how to sing, express multiple emotions, and tell a story. In just 21 minutes, we have been shown the impact of passion and how it changes your world. Every instrumental delivers here as well, combining well with Lizzie’s words and singing. I’ve enjoyed this artist’s work in the past, but this might be their best so far. I’m also now very jealous, as this project live is going to be immense. And if they can make an album with this level of songwriting, singing, and instrumentals, we are in for a treat.

Rating: 9/10

Lizzie Berchie is on Instagram, X, Threads, and TikTok. Read more album reviews and stream the EP below.

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