Zella Day (EP)

In 2012, Day collaborated with Wax Ltd to produce and visualize her debut EP, Cynics vs. Dreamers. It was self-released digitally on May 23, 2012.[4][5] On June 14, 2012, Day released her cover of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army".[6] In the same year, Day secured a joint record agreement with B3SCI Records and Pinetop Records.[7] In October 2013, "Sweet Ophelia", "1965", and "East of Eden" were written.[8][9] Day stated that the songs have "been hanging out for a while until we decided to release an EP."[7] In a May 2014 interview with AMBY, Day announced that there was an EP "in the works", and that she was "in the studio every day right now tightening up the mixes and they are so close to ready." She stated she was "planning on releasing a four-song EP by summer."[10] A month later, in an interview with Turntable Kitchen, Day initially announced the EP would be released in August, and she was “working on a full-length album, which I’m planning on having out next year."[8] The development would eventually be released as her major-label debut. On September 12, 2014, she officially announced the EP’s release date and cover art on social media.[11]

The sound of Zella Day is characterized as "hazy and dreamlike" complimented with "atmospheres [that] intertwine with exploding pop-based melodies.",[12] and is "lighthearted and catchy."[13] Instrumentally, the EP is described as an "electropop"[13] and "versatile"[12] record, that blends "folk influences...with clean, modern pop production."[14] Lyrically, Zella Day has themes of romance, love, and emotional intimacy.

The standard cover features Day standing in front of a forest during spring with a teal-colored sky, while wearing a mustard yellow dress with vibrant yellow patterns. In addition to digital release, the record was released on compact disc.[18] The standard CD is presented in a jewel case, with a mustard yellow CD inside. The CD is accompanied with a page of personnel that have contributed to the EP.[19] Alongside compact disc, an exclusive, limited edition 10" LP, with a decorative swirl press was released. The LP is presented in a gatefold,[20] and includes a lyric sheet of all four tracks.[21] The release featured an alternative cover of Day standing while wearing a pink Panama hat, pink leather jacket, and pink leggings in front of an oval mustard yellow background with pink flowers surrounding it, alongside a different track listing order. It also featured a high-quality download code to listen to the record digitally. Only 200 copies were produced.[22]

All tracks were produced by Wax Ltd.

Credits adapted from the EP's liner notes.[23][26]