REYNA

GA Standing

There are few artists I can say this about, but I'll admit it about Reyna: They have not written a song that I did not, at the very least, enjoy, and more often, absolutely love. They're masters when it comes to pop melodies, as this five-song EP makes clear. There's so much to adore here, like the contrast of sparkly synths and rich bass grooves for "Optimist," over intimate lyrics about serving a lover "Apple Jacks in bed." And "Serotonin" is sublime, with dreamy, smartly utilized guitar washes and quietly bouncy keys, Gab Banuelos' blissful vocals, and a hook that evokes the Everly Brothers' classic "Dream," co-written by Milwaukee native Felice Bryant. Bryant, one of the greatest songwriters of the past century, would admire Reyna's own songwriting craft.- Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel