Emerging from the dark-lit corners of Edinburgh’s DIY scene, Demi And The Urge enters the spotlight with their debut EP As Above, So Below? — a four-track collection of glitzy, gothic, and emotionally raw alt-pop that demands attention. Demi, the mind behind the moniker, describes the sound as “80s-inspired dark electronic pop anthems with the aesthetics of gnostic theology and punk drag.” That might sound like a lot to carry on one set of shoulders, but across these 15-or-so minutes, Demi wears it with theatrical confidence, heartbreak honesty, and a sincere flair for melodic drama.
Whether you’re into John Maus, early Depeche Mode, or the underbelly of queer club culture, there’s a good chance you’ll find a dark mirror of yourself somewhere in these songs.
1. “Never Had a Heart”
Opening the EP like a cracked confession booth, “Never Had a Heart” immediately sets the emotional tone. The track leans on icy synth pads and hollow percussion, with Demis’ vocals floating like an unanswered question above it all. There’s something disarmingly honest here — a melodic unraveling of regret that never dips into self-pity. Think Boy Harsher, but more tender.
The songwriting is deceptively simple but incredibly effective, with lyrics that could be whispered in a toilet cubicle at 2am or scrawled on a fogged mirror.
2. “Tragic!”
Where the opener aches, “Tragic!” spits glitter. It’s still soaked in darkness, but this time it dances in it. With a bassline straight out of an early-’80s goth club and a chorus that begs to be shouted into a cracked bathroom mirror, it’s part breakup anthem, part genderfuck warcry.
Demi channels the melodrama of glam-era Bowie with the self-awareness of someone who’s very online and very tired. The vocal delivery hits somewhere between sarcastic and suicidal — it’s pop-punk by way of eyeliner and existentialism. One of the standout hooks on the EP.
3. “What Do You Believe In?”
Slowing things down again, this track leans heavier into the spiritual thematics that Demi hinted at in the pitch. It’s almost a hymn for the disenchanted, layering synth drones with minimalist beats and plaintive vocals. There’s a kind of gnostic yearning in the lyrics: part questioning, part letting go.
What makes this song work is the restraint. It doesn’t try to deliver a climax. It sits with its discomfort. In doing so, it becomes one of the most affecting moments on the project.
4. “Other”
Closing out the EP is “Other,” a track that burns slow and bitter. The production here is rawer — less polished, more pulsing. There’s a tangible discomfort, a sonic unease that mirrors the lyrical content about identity, alienation, and being boxed in by binaries.
Demis’ vocal is at its most vulnerable here. You can hear the throat tightening on certain lines. You can almost picture the mascara streaks. It’s a perfect closer — not with a bang, but with a cracked whisper.
Final Thoughts
As Above, So Below? isn’t just a debut EP. It’s an invocation. Demi And The Urge has landed with a clear aesthetic, a sharp ear for melody, and a total refusal to dilute their vision. Demi isn’t asking for mainstream approval — they’re handing you a mirror and daring you to look.
This is the kind of project that could easily slip under the radar unless the right people shout about it. So we are. If you’re in Edinburgh, do yourself a favour: show up at The Banshee Labyrinth on 21 June, buy a cassette (before all 18 disappear), and feel something real.
For fans of: TR/ST, Siouxsie, Alex Cameron, your last breakup, eyeliner that won’t come off.
Echo Rebel UK Verdict: Glittery. Goth. Gospel for the emotionally unstable. Highly recommended.
