User:Leftperson99right89all9898/sandbox/Lena/Out of the Meadow, Into The Trees... Where Do We Go Now?

Out of the Meadow, Into the Trees... Where Do We Go Now? is the second EP by American singer-songwriter Lena, released on March 30, 2029, through Deep End Records via Republic Records. The EP features seven previously unreleased tracks that were initially intended for her 2028 album "Watch Me, As I Run Through The Meadows of Our Love." According to Lena, the songs were cut from the album during the final stages of production due to time constraints and the overall flow of the record.

Lena announced the release of the EP on her social media accounts, surprising her fans with the unexpected drop. She wrote, "I've been holding onto these songs for a while now and I'm so excited to share them with you all. These are the songs that didn't make it onto my last album, but I still think they're special and deserve to be heard. I hope you love them as much as I do."

Background
After finishing work on Watch Me, As I Run Through The Meadows of Our Love, Lena and her collaborator and partner Chipp started working on some of the tracks from the album that they had scrapped. During the recording sessions, they wrote and recorded a number of tracks that did not make the final cut for the album. Lena had initially planned to release these tracks as a bonus album, but later decided to release them as a separate EP.

The EP features seven tracks, all co-written by Lena and Chipp, except for "Tyler" and "Mother," which Lena wrote by herself. The tracklist is as follows: "Treetop," "Intentions," "Tyler," "Mother," "Pink Incarnate," "It's Time To Go," and "Where Do We Go Now?" The EP has a total runtime of 28 minutes and 33 seconds.

Writing and production
The EP was largely a continuation of Lena's previous project and consisted of indie rock and folk pop genres. All the songs were co-written by Lena and her collaborator and partner Chipp, except for "Tyler" and "Mother," which Lena wrote by herself.

After finishing work on "Watch Me, As I Run Through The Meadows of Our Love," Lena and Chipp started working on some of the tracks from the album that they had scrapped. During the recording sessions, they wrote and recorded a number of tracks that did not make the final cut for the album. Lena had initially planned to release these tracks as a bonus album, but later decided to release them as a separate EP.

Music and lyrics
"Treetop" - The EP's opening track, "Treetop" features a driving beat and shimmering guitars, creating a feeling of soaring through the treetops. The lyrics speak to the feeling of being free and unrestricted, with lines like "Up here, I am free / And everything else is a distant memory."

"Intentions" - "Intentions" is a heartfelt ballad with gentle acoustic guitar and piano, showcasing Lena's emotive vocals. The lyrics reflect on the importance of communication in a relationship, with lines like "It's not enough to love each other / We have to show it too."

"Tyler" - A standout track on the EP, "Tyler" is a hauntingly beautiful song that showcases Lena's songwriting prowess. The sparse instrumentation and Lena's raw, vulnerable vocals make for an emotional listening experience. The lyrics were written by Lena and are a tribute to her partner Chipp, expressing her deep love and admiration for him.

"Mother" - "Mother" is a heartfelt, piano-driven track that deals with the theme of loss. Lena wrote the lyrics herself and the song is a tribute to her mother, who passed away before the release of her debut album. The song features poignant lyrics that capture the emotions of grief and longing, while Lena's soaring vocals add a sense of emotional weight to the track. The instrumentation is minimal, consisting primarily of piano and subtle strings, which allow the lyrics and Lena's vocals to take center stage.

"Pink Incarnate" - The EP's most upbeat track, "Pink Incarnate" is a fun, quirky song that showcases Lena's playful side. The lyrics describe a woman who is confident in herself and her uniqueness, with lines like "I'm the only pink incarnate / The world's a boring place without me."

"It's Time To Go" - "It's Time To Go" is a melancholy ballad with sparse instrumentation and Lena's vocals front and center. The lyrics reflect on the sadness and heartbreak of a relationship ending, with lines like "I can't stay here and pretend / That everything is alright in the end."

"Where Do We Go Now?" - The EP's closing track, "Where Do We Go Now?" is a dreamy, atmospheric song that invites the listener to get lost in its sonic landscape. The lyrics reflect on the uncertainty and unpredictability of life, with lines like "Where do we go now? / Nobody knows for sure."

Art direction
The art direction of Lena's surprise EP "Out of the Meadow, Into the Trees... Where Do We Go Now?" was a continuation of the aesthetic established in her previous album "Watch Me, As I Run Through The Meadows of Our Love." The EP's cover art features a stunning photograph of Lena standing in a forest, looking off into the distance. The photograph captures the essence of the EP's themes, which explore the transition from a comfortable, familiar place to the unknown.

The art direction was overseen by Lena and her team, who worked with photographer and visual artist, Samantha Jones. Jones's work is known for its ethereal, dreamlike quality, which perfectly complemented the EP's folk-pop and indie rock sound. The forest setting of the photograph was chosen to evoke a sense of nature, and to create a visual representation of the EP's title, "Out of the Meadow, Into the Trees... Where Do We Go Now?"

The EP's physical release also included a booklet featuring additional photographs taken by Jones, which continued the forest theme. The booklet included handwritten lyrics, giving fans a personal touch and a glimpse into Lena's creative process.

Release and promotion
The EP was released without prior announcement, much to the delight of fans who had been eagerly anticipating new music from the artist.

The EP was made available for streaming and digital download on all major music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. It was also released on vinyl and CD format, which could be purchased on Lena's official website.

To promote the surprise release, Lena took to social media to share the news with her fans. She posted a cryptic message on her Twitter account, which read "New music coming sooner than you think...". This caused a buzz among her fans, who started speculating about what Lena had in store for them.

A few days later, Lena officially announced the surprise release of the EP on her social media accounts. She shared the tracklist and cover art, which featured a striking image of a forest with herself walking through it. The cover art was designed by Lena herself, who had been involved in the art direction of the project.

Despite the lack of a traditional marketing campaign, "Out of the Meadow, Into the Trees... Where Do We Go Now?" was well-received by fans and critics alike. The surprise release generated a lot of buzz on social media and helped to increase Lena's already sizable fan base.

Critical response
"Out of the Meadow, Into the Trees... Where Do We Go Now?" was met with critical acclaim upon its surprise release on March 30, 2029. The EP received an average score of 82 on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim."

Critics praised Lena's songwriting abilities, with Rolling Stone calling it "a testament to her songwriting and musical abilities." Pitchfork noted that while the EP may not have the same cohesiveness as Lena's previous album, it still showcases her undeniable talent and ability to create beautiful music.

NME hailed the EP as a "beautiful and intimate collection of songs," and Consequence of Sound described it as a "captivating listen from start to finish." The Independent noted that despite the surprise release, the EP "certainly doesn't sound like a rushed or half-baked effort," highlighting Lena's talent and attention to detail.