TikTok’s favorite UK pop girl PinkPantheress has finally dropped her first studio album Heaven Knows. After the success of her mixtape to hell with it and several sporadically released singles, PinkPantheress continues to carry the bedroom pop genre with a full-length project.

Inspired by dance music from the 90s and early 2000s, the English songwriter and producer creates a piece that centers her relationships with fame and love. The album has a spooky yet robust opening through “Another life.” This track has an organ in the beginning but transitions into her typical electronic instrumentation. “Another life” also explores the feelings of a lover passing away.

Following the theme of love, PinkPantheress discusses many different situations that can occur in a romantic relationship. For instance, in “True romance,” she plays with the idea of falling in love with a famous singer and her apprehensions about how she will be treated in the presence of fans. The track is very upbeat and includes a crowd cheering and clapping as if she is actually at a concert.

There are a handful of other songs that talk about unfavorable relationship scenarios. “Feel complete” explores the feelings associated with having an alcoholic partner and “Ophelia” is about the singer getting killed by her partner. The production on “Ophelia” is a standout as the end of the song reinforces the death idea with the vocals glitching and sounding as if she is underwater. This is a very clever nod to Hamlet because the character Ophelia dies by drowning.

In terms of the grapple with fame, two tracks in particular execute this theme. “Mosquito,” one of the lead singles of this album, discusses how PinkPantheress is overwhelmed with her sudden rise to fame and is hyper-aware of the amount of money she has. She also feels that the only thing she truly has ownership of is her lover in her life. “Internet baby (interlude)” is more obvious about this struggle, which specifically calls out the parasocial relationship some of her fans have with her.

PinkPantheress does a stellar job of staying consistent with her production and airy vocals, which made fans fall in love with her in the first place. She does get a little experimental on this piece though with her expanding into the rock genre. This is best demonstrated in the instrumentation on “Capable of love.” Though it has elements that are very similar to her standard production that uses breakbeat loops, there are heavy electric guitars and aggressive drums. In regard to the features on this album, they are mostly drill rappers and each of them lend themselves nicely to the flow of their respective songs. Rema, Central Cee, and Ice Spice all make an appearance on the album.

Heaven Knows is a solid debut album that shows off PinkPantheress’ ability to elaborate on a simple idea throughout her lyrics and to collaborate with artists of a different style. Contrary to popular belief, some songs on this album did pass the 3-minute mark because PinkPantheress is known for having her songs be on the shorter side. This project, however, did feel very safe as there was not much variety in the production, and upon first listen the rap features felt out of place. Though she does very well in the bedroom pop genre, hopefully she can try something new next and still excel as an artist.

PinkPantheress explores the pain of love and money in Heaven Knows

Life is full of challenges, so why not write music about it? Omar Apollo released his third EP “Live for Me,” which symbolizes a transitional period in his life and for his music. This work is very reflective, and talks about feelings that Apollo has been experiencing for the past few years. After releasing his debut album Ivory in 2022 and living the life of a celebrity, he has had time to ponder his past experiences. Throughout this record, Omar Apollo gives listeners a glimpse into his inner thoughts.

The EP opens with “Ice Slippin,” a nostalgic ballad with soft piano chords to start off. As the first verse goes on, strong drum kicks follow. On this track, Apollo talks about family acceptance and seasonal depression. “Ice Slippin is about reliving the thoughts I had passing through my mind the winter I came out to my family. Receiving cold judgment as opposed to the acceptance I felt I deserved,” said Apollo in a 

. The lyrics drive this point home with lines like “If I said what I said, would you hate me?” The music video also supports this idea with footage of Apollo and his family.

The next track “Live for Me” is another heartfelt piece that discusses the emotions that come with growing up. It is initially very soulful with several overlapping harmonies, but as the song moves into the chorus, a steady drum beat gives it a bedroom pop vibe. This emotional track specifically tackles themes of loneliness and living for the people he loves, in addition to himself.

In “Angel,” Apollo explores personal growth after a difficult period of his life. This track is initially striking because of its heavy use of autotune, which isn’t extremely common in his music. However, the autotune works with his voice rather than against it. This song is very poetic, with imagery of an angel’s appearance and metaphors for death.

The final track “Pilot” covers the feelings of unrequited love and a failed relationship. It is a standout in comparison to the rest of the EP for its production quality. The track uses many electronic elements like synthesizers and electric guitars, which crescendo in the middle of the track. His voice works well with them, almost melting into the instrumentation. The song also combines R&B and hip-hop, as Apollo uses staccato rap on top of a soft piano melody at its bridge.

Omar Apollo does a great job of conveying his emotions through his music allowing the listener to feel the same way. Live for Me truly feels like a journey through his conscience during a key part of his life. The piece is a strong representation of Apollo’s ability to express complex themes and change his sound to reflect a certain feeling.

Omar Apollo gets nostalgic on Live for Me

She didn't quit music after all. Doja Cat released her fourth studio album Scarlet in the midst of her controversy. In recent months, Doja Cat has been called out on social media for being rude to her fans as well as claiming that her music was a series of “cash grabs.” Though her most recent albums Hot Pink and Planet Her have been praised for being fun albums to listen to, she believes that they did not represent her artistry. Through her new demonic persona, Doja uses Scarlet to drop her former pop-girl image.

Doja starts off strong with her single “Attention,” released in June. This track is closer to traditional hip-hop and sets a different tone from many of her previous singles. “Attention” has a very sinister vibe to it, but the lyrics make it known that she is back and is disregarding the hate she has been receiving. She also talks about her change in appearance and even disses her fans since she is trying something new.

Since this was the first glimpse listeners had into Scarlet, many believed that most of the album would mimic the style of “Attention.” This is somewhat true, as the latter half of the album has heavier modern rap influences while the first half takes inspiration from the 1990s and 2000s. “Agora Hills,” for example, sounds very nostalgic and dreamy with its drum kicks and hi-hats carrying the piece. The music video further demonstrates this vibe with a Y2K-esque setting. This track is a contrast to the rest of the album, however, as it is more romantic than confident.

Doja is very self-assured throughout this album with tracks like “Paint the Town Red,” “Ouchies,” and “WYM Freestyle.” “Paint the Town Red” the first song on the album sets up the main idea of Doja writing off her haters. The piece sounds very upbeat and positive with the trumpets from the sample used. On a similar note, “Ouchies” focuses on Doja’s strategy to combat opposition, which is “fight and ice.” In “WYM Freestyle,” she talks about her accolades and claims that she will still be relevant despite the hate she has been getting online.

Scarlet served as an album to showcase Doja Cat’s rapping ability as she has not been taken seriously in hip-hop, specifically on her last single, “Balut.” This track has a lot of wordplay based on her own life and what people have said about her.

The album was worth listening to because Doja wanted to demonstrate a style change but the message of altering her image was drilled to the ground. With this, some of her songs sounded too similar lyrically and lacked variety in terms of substance. To some degree, she did fall short in the intention of changing her sound. Though “Paint the Town Red” is dominating the charts, it could’ve easily been on her previous projects. In terms of production, the songs “Wet Vagina,” “Shutcho,” and “Demons” sound like slight variations of each other. The rap flows sound almost identical.

Doja Cat has proven that she can be a versatile artist – will her next work venture further into rap, or will she try something else?

Doja Cat is back, in her Scarlet era

Kali Uchis is back and better than ever with her third studio album 

. Sticking to her signature ethereal, yet soulful sound, she doesn’t disappoint. The Colombian-American artist known for her genre-bending tracks and multicultural influence focuses on the intricacies of love. While discussing femininity and romance throughout this project, Uchis gracefully bends through these themes both in English and Spanish. “Love is the message. Red Moon in Venus is a timeless, burning expression of desire, heartbreak, faith, and honesty, reflecting the divine femininity of the moon and Venus,” explained Uchis in her newsletter.

The album felt very cohesive thematically and sonically – most of the tracks fade into one another for seamless transitions. This record best fits in the R&B category, considering her style and features with other artists in this category like Summer Walker, Omar Apollo, and her current boyfriend Don Toliver. However, there is clearly a Latin pop influence as well.

 tells the story of Kali Uchis getting over a relationship and finding new love. There are a lot of internal thoughts from Uchis throughout this record as she contemplates ending a relationship in her song “Blue” and eventually vocalizes that she gets over this fear in “Deserve Me.”

Her singles “I Wish You Roses” and “Moonlight,” released in January and February respectively, were interesting choices to present as snippets of the album being that their meanings oppose each other. Despite both being positive outlooks on love, “I Wish You Roses” focuses on letting go of a relationship “Moonlight” while the other describes the highs of beginning a new relationship. The placement of these songs is worth noting – they are opposite ends of the album yet parallel each other.

Kali Uchis’s vocals on this project feel lush as some parts of the album feature natural elements like birds chirping and rushing water. Many of the songs also have imagery that pertains to flowers and gardens. Her messages are authentic, almost as if she is advising us on how to maintain a healthy and successful relationship. At the beginning of her song “Moral Conscience,” Uchis says, “One thing about karma, that bitch will find you.” This track is the realization that Kali’s ex-lover has made a mistake by breaking up with her and knows that karma will come back to haunt him.

Though most of the album sonically aligns with the rest of Kali Uchis’ discography, the final track “Happy Now” feels slightly out of place. “Happy Now” begins with an upbeat drum and piano riff, which sounds most similar to a bedroom indie pop song from the late 2010s. The piece shifts halfway through to a slower, more serene melody. The track is the perfect ending for the project though because it closes out the narrative of the album. During the song’s transition, Kali speaks about wanting to remember the good of a relationship and not to go too fast, serving as a good reminder for anyone entering a new partnership.

The project itself is an impressive piece of work, considering that Kali plans on releasing another album this year and that she has branched out more in terms of her vocal delivery. We can only hope that this run of quality releases continues.

Kali Uchis teaches us how to love on 'Red Moon in Venus'

Almost three years following her second studio album, 

Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞

, Kali Uchis is back again with some new music. Though she has released some singles prior to her album’s rollout like “Desafinado” for the movie 

 and “No Hay Ley” in September, Kali is finally releasing a full project of her own.

The lead single, “I Wish You Roses,” is the introduction to her new album 

, set to release on March 3. Already, it has fans captivated by her artistry, showcasing a venture into R&B. This seductive track details Uchis expressing the idea that she is leaving someone, but on good terms.

“This song is about being able to release people with love. It could be a friend, a lover, or someone else, but the point is to celebrate releasing people from your life without being resentful or bitter,” said Uchis in a 

. This theme is beautifully demonstrated throughout the song, using the symbolism of flowers and natural elements. For example, she compares herself to a “rose in a garden of weeds” and saying that her love for her person is “as deep as the ocean.” She wishes that this person (whoever it may be) is well and has no intentions of harming them in the future.

As letting someone go is a natural event, the comparisons to nature are cleverly incorporated into the song’s meaning. Though a relationship has ended, Uchis in her lyrics shows that there still is love for this person.

Kali Uchis also showcases her ability to switch between multiple genres of music. The beat throughout the entire song is steady and relaxing, but slows down at the end to create an angelic feeling from the ethereal vocals all around.

Even though “I Wish You Roses” is the only content we have of Kali Uchis’s new musical era, it’s a promising representation of how her sound is evolving with everything she releases.

Kali Uchis wishes you roses

Japanese singer-songwriter Joji (also known as Pink Guy, Filthy Frank, or just George Miller) released his third studio album 

). Though similar to the rest of his Joji-era discography, 

 has the specific vibe of a late-night breakup conversation. This album tackles themes of heartbreak and healing in a graceful way that makes listeners feel like they are experiencing the situation alongside him.

The singles released prior to the album, “Glimpse of Us” and “YUKON (INTERLUDE),” clearly set the tone for the rest of 

. The album is split into two parts: the first consists of somber ballads, and the second of experimental lofi beats.

The album begins with “Glimpse of Us,” a fan favorite when it debuted this summer. The track discusses a past relationship Joji had that he’s not fully over because of memories that continuously resurface in his head. The solo piano instrumental combined with his haunting vocals drive home the sad, hopeful thoughts playing through Joji’s head. The piano is thunderous during the chorus, but steadier when traversing through the two verses.

Other notable ballads in the first portion of the album include “Die For You” and “Dissolve.” The two songs share similar sentiments of holding onto a past relationship and the desire to reconcile it. Like the title suggests, Joji is willing to die for his former lover because he still has feelings for them. He feels that the relationship has felt “almost like we left it all on read” – the breakup has been acknowledged but not fully discussed. This irresolution has caused more heartbreak for Joji and has made it harder for him to move on.

“Dissolve” by far has the most interesting combination of instrumentation and vocals, as it utilizes heavy autotune but is accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Despite the track sounding slightly more upbeat than the rest of the album, the lyrics juxtapose this feeling, since he doesn’t want his memory of a happy relationship to dissolve.

As we reach the second portion of the album, the vibe changes almost completely. The tracks have a heavier electronic, hip-hop, and trap influence, as opposed to the bedroom pop genre that Joji is known for. This is distinctly heard in the sixth song “NIGHT RIDER,” which includes trap synths and meaty drum kicks. The beat of this song is super catchy, and on the groovier side compared to the rest of the album.

 also displays Joji acknowledging that his relationship is over though he does not want it to be. This is very apparent in the final track “1 AM FREESTYLE,” where he explicitly says in the refrain “and I’m tired of this madness, tired of being stranded, I don’t wanna be alone.” Though 

 is very reminiscent of Joji’s past albums 

, this album is a good addition to his discography. It showcased his vocal talent and his versatility across multiple genres. Not every track is a standout, but Joji definitely showed his dedication to being experimental.

Olivia Mintz