Mothica is the musical moniker of McKenzie Aston Ellis. Her musical career began around 2014 alongside artist Ricky Valet, who has only 16 monthly Spotify listeners to date. Shortly after, she moved on to another lesser-known artist, Waveless, keeping up the goth-pop vibes. She didn’t make much more headway, but some progress is better than nothing.
With a handful of guest star appearances out of the way, Mothica finally made her solo debut with 2015’s ‘Mythic’ EP. Comparable to albums such as Mazzy Star’s ‘So Tonight That I Might See‘ and Tori Amos’s ‘Little Earthquakes‘, Mothica breathed her vocals into the microphone with a certain ache that moved the audience.
As her career progressed, so did her musical prowess, adding elements of industrial beats without sacrificing her pop sensibilities on releases such as 2022’s ‘Nocturnal‘ and 2025’s ‘Toxins.‘ Fast forward to 2026, where the musician further evolves into the metal genre with ‘Somewhere In Between.’
“Evergreen Misery” launches the EP into full throttle with beautiful pop vocals falling beside a full guitar-driven refrain. Without mincing words, the artist describes her unending distress in this life. Similar to the life cycle of an evergreen, Mothica’s misery seems to blossom eternally.
Depression can seem like something that never dies, only ebbs and flows. But truthfully, the infinite sadness can be harnessed with the proper treatment. Pills, therapy, or a combination of both can go a long way towards healing.
“Weapon” falls into somewhat more familiar territory, leaving behind the guitar but keeping the hard-rock beat. Here, Mothica speaks of the unusual talents of the heart, which include healing and hurting.
No other organ is more complicated than the human heart, which can destroy in ways similar to a knife, arrow, or gun. When aimed in the proper direction, things can become quite lethal. Careful how you use this weapon, because you’re not the only one who has to live with the consequences.
If I’m being honest, I know how this goes. You’ll take what you need, then you’ll leave me hollow.
“Save Your Roses” feels like the brainchild of Jonathan Davis, charging in with a chugging guitar and a thick bass line. Addiction seems to be the theme of this tune and the importance of choosing life over dependency.
Drugs, alcohol, or smoking can easily build a barrier over our lives that can be nearly impossible to break through. Repeatedly, they knock us down, leaving us helpless and gasping for air. Without the proper attitude, these addictions can truly be the death of us, but facing the challenge head-on allows us to say, “Don’t save your roses for my grave.”
Similar in theme to “Save Your Roses,” “Bullet” also focuses on addiction but takes a slightly different approach.
When faced with suicidal ideation, lines become blurry. Our eyes can become so centered on death that nothing is clear anymore except for the path that leads to a bullet or a noose. This often creates unhealthy coping mechanisms.
These can include multiple escapisms such as cutting, drugs, and gambling, which can each become a twisted form of a lifeline.
Like the singer says, “The lesser of two evils could be one hell of a time.”
The final track, “Somewhere In Between,” rounds out the EP, bringing back the synth-pop sound layered with goth-like vocals. This is a nice way to bring the album full circle to the rest of Mothica’s well-weathered library. It makes the metal sound less forced and more of a natural progression.
Instead of getting what could have been an experimental EP, the fans get a taste of what’s to come.
As far as EPs go, ‘Somewhere In Between’ is definitely an adventure worth taking. Mothica’s exploration of a new sound isn’t as bold as Poppy’s ‘I Disagree,’ but it doesn’t necessarily have to be.
For the artist, these aren’t giant steps but an organic development. Not a slap in the face, but a welcome tap on the shoulder.
What is your favorite track on ‘Somewhere In Between?’ Let us know in the comments below.
Listen to ‘Somewhere In Between.’
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Charles E. Henning
Self-proclaimed "entertainment guru" Charles E Henning fills his free time reading books, watching movies, and listening to music. While not always up on the latest trends, he is consistently willing to dissect the themes of pop culture.