Heartbreak, confidence and self-worth. These are the themes that Kelsea Ballerini explores in her new album “Patterns.” It was released on Oct. 25 with her co-producer Alysa Vanderheym.
The album is moderately a follow-up to her 2023 release “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat.” The piece depicted a more vulnerable lyrical style for Ballerini as she unpacked her emotions surrounding her divorce from Australian musician Morgan Evans in 2022. “Rolling Up The Welcome Mat” was rooted in anger. It served as Ballerini’s coping mechanism to deal with the ramifications of her high-profile separation.
The Beautiful and the Brutal
As she emerges from the darkness surrounding her previous relationship, this new album “Patterns” is laced with confidence. She has talked about this since publicizing her happy relationship with actor Chase Stokes in February 2023.
Ballerini announced the release of “Patterns” on her Instagram with words of self-admiration.
“The beautiful and brutal look into myself and the people I love the most. The celebrations and challenges in the name of betterment, growth and all around elevated vibes. The healthy habits that I hold close and the ones that gotta go,” she said.
The album opens with its title track, “Patterns.” It features a variety of instruments used in traditional country music. There is a hint of mandolin in the ballad accompanied by synthesizers.
“Sorry Mom” is reminiscent of Ballerini’s journey to self-identity. She examines her youthful indiscretions and how they have shaped her into the woman she is today. “I turned out alright,” she sings.
A New Avenue of Identity
“This Time Last Year” is a ballad that divulges all of the ways in which Ballerini’s life has changed over the last 365 days. “Nothing Really Matters” brings an angle of existentialism to the record as Ballerini dives into the notion with lyrics like, “we’re on a rock in space.”
“How Much Do You Love Me” is a pleading ballad that questions Ballerini’s loved ones’ loyalty and devotion to her. “Baggage,” “We Broke Up” and “WAIT!” dig up the skeletons of her old habits in relationships, but only to depict her pattern of fragility as she comes into her newfound confidence. “Beg For Your Love” highlights Ballerini’s standards for what she feels that she deserves out of a relationship.
This is then followed by a series of tracks like “First Rodeo.” This piece was inspired by her love and appreciation for Stokes’ unbounded patience. “I Would, Would You” and “Deep” bring a moody and sort of melancholic side to the album as they explore Ballerini’s inner monologue surrounding love.
Ballerini dichotomizes her flaws in “Two Things” with lyrics like “I’ll be your best and your worst day,” which shows her never-ending vulnerability. “Cowboys Cry Too,” a pre-released song that is a part of the album, features Noah Kahan and is perhaps the most memorable track.
A Human Story
“I’ve never felt so free and human making an album, and I credit it to the angel-on-earth women who made it with me,” Ballerini said in her Instagram caption, crediting work on the album to her team.
“Patterns” explores her newfound confidence and love for life through 15 songs within the bounds of a 46-minute album. She left her supporters with a variety of ways to connect to her words on her social media.
“Written from my truest self, but meant for you to project onto your own lives and try on for fit. Whether you relate, want a song to cry in the back of an Uber music video style to, dramatically/drunkenly tell someone how much you love them or scream sing about moments gone wrong before they went right … it’s all yours,” she said.
