Robin Cisek - Tempered EP
- Samuel Stevens
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
Edmonton-based Métis artist Robin Cisek doesn’t just step into her power—she shatters the expectations around it on her sophomore EP, Tempered. It's a bold, self-produced statement that threads emotional vulnerability through edgy, synth-laced alt-pop. Where her 2021 debut EP, Delicate Minds, was rooted in healing and introspection, Tempered is confrontation and catharsis—a sonic and thematic evolution that cements Cisek as a self-assured creative force.
Across seven tracks, Cisek balances the raw with the refined, welding her experiences as a woman navigating a male-dominated industry into lyrical and production gold. It's a DIY triumph, recorded largely from her home studio, with every song penned by Cisek herself. As a producer, she leans into moody, atmospheric arrangements without ever losing her pop sensibility—a sound that aligns with artists like BANKS, Ari Hicks, and Halsey, while remaining unmistakably her own.
The album kicks off with “Rumor,” a sleek, slow-burning track that immediately sets the tone—mysterious, brooding, and fearless. It’s a fitting opener for a record about confronting assumptions and reclaiming narrative.
“Escape,” co-produced by Brandon Unis and Brad Simons, is Cisek’s most personal offering—a grateful nod to the people who’ve helped her stay grounded. In contrast to the darker textures elsewhere, “Escape” shines with warmth, revealing a softness beneath her hardened exterior.
Then comes the EP's third track, “Reactive,” a glitchy and haunting mid-tempo number where Cisek explores the emotional whiplash of being constantly on edge. Its production pulses with restrained chaos—apt for a song about overstimulation and vulnerability in a world that demands composure.
The album’s anchor—and perhaps its most impactful moment—is “Play Dirty.” As the lead single and the first song Cisek fully produced herself, it’s the sonic embodiment of the album’s title: beautiful, sharp, and dangerous under pressure. The dark trip-hop influence paired with pop hooks makes it an anthem for those wronged and a celebration of reclaiming power.
“Foundation” and “Goin' in Blind” maintain the album’s emotional intensity. The former is contemplative and grounded, while the latter is marked by cascading synths, pounding drums, and a sharp melodic edge, capturing the chaos of diving into uncertainty.
The closing track, “Leave Me in the Cold,” is a haunting ballad, stripped back yet vocally rich. It's a finale that lingers long after the last note, aching with loneliness and defiance—a final embrace of being too much, too emotional, and gloriously tempered.
Cisek’s voice is the linchpin of Tempered—airy yet grounded, soulful yet steely. There’s a measured restraint in her delivery that mirrors the central metaphor: like tempered glass, she’s built to withstand pressure, but that doesn’t mean she won’t break—and if she does, it’ll be explosive.
Ultimately, Tempered is more than an EP—it's a reclamation. It’s about being too loud, too emotional, too much, and refusing to apologize for it. By engineering every aspect of her vision—from writing and recording to visuals and performance—Robin Cisek emerges not just as a pop artist, but as a fully realized auteur. One thing that is clear is this is a record made not just by a woman, but for every woman who’s been told to tone it down. Robin Cisek didn’t. And the result is absolutely magnetic.
Check out more from Robin Cisek:
Comments