Lauren Alex Hooper ‘Too Much And Not Enough, Vol. 1’ - A Vivid, Unapologetic EP That Reshapes Pop Storytelling
- Curious For Music Team
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Lauren Alex Hooper’s Too Much And Not Enough, Vol. 1 is a triumph of self-expression — a stirring and impeccably produced alt-pop EP that boldly centers neurodivergent experience without compromise or cliché.
At just five tracks, the project feels expansive, emotionally rich, and surprisingly cohesive, with each song offering a facet of what it means to move through the world autistic, sensitive, and awake.
From the first few seconds of “Armour,” Hooper’s emotional clarity is striking. The song explores the idea of social masking with haunting simplicity. Her lyrics are carefully chosen, her vocals almost whisper-soft at times, as if letting go of her metaphorical armour in real time. It’s a song that lingers, not just as music, but as truth many have never heard articulated.
The EP’s middle tracks — “Eye To Eye” and “The Loneliest Whale” — are standouts. The former speaks to the quiet intensity of eye contact, not as a social norm, but as a deeply layered experience. The latter, a masterclass in metaphor, uses the story of a misunderstood whale to channel the deep ache of isolation. Yet, even in that loneliness, there’s a palpable sense of solidarity — the quiet relief that someone else gets it.
“Overexposed” captures the auditory and emotional noise of life through shimmering synths and melancholic melodies. The feeling is immersive — like standing in a crowd and hearing everything at once. Then, just when the EP risks becoming too heavy, “Last One Standing” closes the set with hope and fierce individuality. It’s a love letter to the passions and inner worlds that sustain so many autistic people — and a powerful reclamation of identity.
This EP doesn’t just tell a story — it reshapes how stories like these are told. Hooper has found her voice, not in spite of her autism, but through it. And with Too Much And Not Enough, Vol. 1, she’s made a compelling case that the future of pop is broader, braver, and more inclusive than we imagined.
