Kevin Silvester- 'O2' EP Review
- Tia Babatzikos
- Jul 16, 2025
- 3 min read
With it's blend of catchy pop-punk riffs, meaningful lyrics and a whole lot of raw emotions, Kevin Silvester's debut EP 'O2' is unapologetically messy and real.
Based in Melbourne, Kevin describes himSelf as “somewhere between a rock star and a pop star”. When talking about his inspiration behind the EP he writes that “songwriting became a survival instinct like breathing oxygen”. This idea inspired the title 'O2' whilst also paying homage to Kevin’s birth year and the era of pop-punk which he draws musical influence from.
‘O2’ shares an intimate and personal journey through Kevin’s life, exploring ideas such as heartbreak, mental health, self identity and sexuality.
The first few tracks set the initial tone of emotional release and catharsis through chaos. They are backed by high energy pop-punk riffs and tongue-in-cheek lyrics which would not sound out of place in the background of an early 2000's coming of age movie.
The opening track, ‘I THINK I NEED THERAPY’ is catchy and upbeat with witty self-deprecating lyrics and an anthemic chorus. Lyrically, this track outlines the struggles of mental health and self-destructive behaviour in a way that is meaningful and honest.
Thematically, the following track ‘STRANGER’ delves deeper into Kevin’s psyche and introspections. This track is an achingly personal song about identity and pessimistic self thoughts with a slower, more pop-influenced sound. It showcases Kevin’s vocal talent and lyricism while highlighting the idea of self loathing in a gentle way.
The vibe becomes more unhinged and wild with the next track, ‘DELULU’, which is my personal favourite from the EP. It features grungy riffs, an infectious chorus and a sound that really delves into those early 2000’s vibes. This track discusses unrequited affections and being delusional in love, something a lot of us would find relatable .
'ORBIT' and 'BAD OMEN' both carry the pop-punk sound from the previous tracks but contrast their catchiness and boppy melodies with pained lyrics about Kevin's queer experience, including relationships and identity struggles. 'ORBIT' is An especially powerful track with heartfelt lyrics about being led on by someone you have feelings for, with lines like "so you kiss girls, pretending it's us".
About halfway through the tracklist, the vibe of the EP shifts, with the sound becoming more acoustic and dreamy alongside lyrics that are raw, vulnerable and self-aware.
'FOOL'S GOLD' is a deeply intimate acoustic track with hints of orchestral strings, giving the song an alternative 90's rock sound that reminded me of The Cranberries. It is the moment of coming to terms with heartbreak, a point of acknowledgment and acceptance with the realisation that "Guess I was just chasing fool’s gold in you”.
The next track 'HURT PEOPLE' is a ballad divulging into a reclamation of power, coming to the realisation that "hurt people, hurt people". The previous themes of change and personal growth really come to the surface through this song.
The closing track "SLEEPWALKER" is a final goodbye and an ode to yearning. This track honestly brought me to tears, from Kevin's raw vulnerability in his vocals to the heartbreaking lyrics. This song is a powerfully beautiful final track, as it is a completely different sound from the beginning of the EP with it's softly haunting atmosphere.
'O2' took me on an emotional rollercoaster but held my hand the entire way and gave me a hug afterwards. This EP is deeply personal and I felt like I had just read through a diary of Kevin's innermost secret thoughts and feelings.
A deeply relatable and confessional listen, 'O2' is definitely one to add to your playlists, whether you want something to scream along with or cry in your bedroom to.
Kevin Silvester will be playing 'O2' live at The Toff on July 18th, so make sure you get your tickets by clicking here! You can also listen to all of 'O2' here for yourself and make sure to keep up to date with Kevin on his socials here.
