[REVIEW] Gianna Sits Between Versions Of Herself On ‘Behind The Wings’

For a debut project, Behind The Wings feels unusually self-contained. Camden-raised and drawing from both her London surroundings and Albanian heritage, gianna doesn’t present herself as a fully defined artist here. Instead, the EP feels more like a snapshot of someone mid-transition, still figuring out where different parts of her identity sit, and how they connect.

That sense of in-between runs through the entire project. Behind The Wings feels like it exists between versions of the same person, rather than trying to settle on just one. The writing doesn’t rush towards clarity. It lets uncertainty sit in the foreground, allowing conflicting thoughts and emotions to exist without forcing them into resolution.

Moments like Shadow of a Bird capture that most clearly. There’s a distance in the way she writes, as if she’s observing herself from the outside, trying to understand what feels unfamiliar. It’s introspective, but not heavy-handed, which helps the project stay balanced.

Sonically, the EP leans into atmosphere, and that’s where it feels most assured. The production is soft but deliberate, blending electronic textures with more stripped-back elements in a way that feels fluid rather than forced. You can hear traces of jungle, trip-hop and downtempo influences, but they’re folded into the background rather than pushed to the front.

That approach gives the EP a strong sense of cohesion. Instead of building around obvious high points, the tracks move together as part of a wider mood. It’s the kind of project that reveals itself gradually, rather than through immediate standout moments.

Her vocal sits naturally within that space. It’s controlled and understated, but still expressive enough to carry the emotional weight of the writing. There’s a softness to it, but it never feels passive. It holds its position without needing to push forward.

Corner Piece offers one of the more exposed moments on the EP, opening up with a lighter, acoustic feel before gradually building into something more layered. It’s a subtle shift, but enough to give the project a bit more dimension without disrupting its overall tone.

By the time it closes on Freak Out, there’s a slight lift in energy. Not a full release, but enough to suggest movement. It doesn’t feel like a conclusion as much as a continuation, which fits the project’s wider theme of not quite arriving anywhere yet.

What stands out most is how intentional everything feels. Even when the EP stays within a fairly tight emotional range, it never feels accidental. The focus is clearly on mood, cohesion and honesty, rather than trying to make a louder statement.

For a debut, that restraint works in its favour. Behind The Wings doesn’t try to define gianna completely. It shows where she is right now, and trusts that to be enough.