So here we are with me doing another review, and this one is interesting as it is from one of those rising artists that we do like to cover. Also of interest to us is that this EP is from one of the new voices from Christian pop/country that we definitely cover here, as we make no apology for being a broadly Christian ethos music magazine. There has been a recent upsurge in Christian ethos music in both the rock and country pop worlds, and we have been pleased to see the number of review requests and submitted music to us increase in this field. We still can’t cover everything, too few of us! But we always dive into those we like best and want to recommend to our readers.
Firstly, the press release and background to the artist:
“Christian singer-songwriter Estella Kirk released her deeply personal new EP, “Growing Pains,” on September 12, 2025—a four-track project that captures the tension of becoming, the ache of transition, and the steady presence of faith through it all.
Written from the “in-between”—where childhood ends and adulthood begins—”Growing Pains” chronicles Kirk’s journey from her Oklahoma hometown to Franklin, TN, and the emotional shifts that followed. With pop-driven sounds and faith-centered lyrics, the EP offers comfort and conviction for anyone navigating change, identity exploration, or spiritual growth.
“This project is for anyone caught between who they were and who they’re becoming,” says Kirk. “It doesn’t offer tidy answers—it offers honesty, vulnerability, and the reminder that while everything else shifts, Jesus stays the same.”
About the EP
Across four heartfelt tracks, “Growing Pains” explores the subtle and seismic shifts of young adulthood—from changing coffee orders to leaving a church that once felt like home. Each song acts as a mirror for listeners in transition, offering clarity and connection through Kirk’s warm vocals and sincere storytelling.
The first single from the EP, “All I Know (To My Knees)”, features Hunter Plake, a Top 5 finalist on The Voice and rising pop-Christian artist. The collaboration blends Kirk’s emotional depth with Plake’s dynamic vocal presence, creating a powerful anthem of surrender and spiritual grounding.”
My review:
The EP has 4 tracks runs to 10 mins 34.
“18” – is a piece of commercial radio friendly pop, with light touch vocals that happily soar over the simple melody. It’s a track about being 18, that most difficult age when you suddenly find you are a grown-up, “a detrimental age” – “still a teen but got to grow up.” I can identify with this, it is a confusing time!
“Coffee” is a gentle swaying track, reflective and a moment of storytelling. I was sitting having a cup of tea and a biscuit with my headphones on and the song was a nice compliment to the moment, you move along with the sentiment. Remember “Watching the Wheels Go Round” by John Lennon, sometimes you need to watch the wheels, or perhaps sip the coffee!
“Growing Pains” continues with the general theme of growing up and finding the moment. Growing up, walking the tightrope of both leaving the parental cloak and having to make your own decisions in a world where you are suddenly expected to make your own decisions. Sometimes life is full of growing pains isn’t it?
“Same Jesus, Different Pew.” “What a Beautiful Name,” when we are at our worst, when far from home, how often do we find a place to pray – wherever we are in the world, “Same Jesus, Different pew.” I’ve been in bad places, but Jesus comes with me! This is, I think, the sentiment here and it is probably my favourite song on the EP. It uplifts and connects, and we always connect to music in different ways – I’m homesick personally for sitting next to my Dad (now gone from us) in Church, but maybe he still remains with me, as Jesus does.
“Growing Pains” is a short but stirring EP that lingers long after its 10 minutes are up. Kirk manages to capture the beauty and the ache of becoming, wrapping it in melodies that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. It’s the kind of record you’ll want to sit with—whether over coffee, in prayer, or in a quiet moment of reflection.
✨ Growing Pains reminds us that faith, love, and identity aren’t fixed points—they grow with us.
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Stream Music from Estella Kirk here
By Anna-Louise Burgess