Nessa Barrett released her second studio album “AFTERCARE” on Nov. 15, and it’s everything fans of the Arctic Monkeys and the Neighbourhood 2014 grunge Tumblr have been waiting for.
Barrett originally rose to fame by being a part of a group of influencers that all went viral on the social media platform TikTok in 2020. Since then, she’s split apart from that influencer image by releasing music, and moving into the industry as a singer and songwriter. Her breakout single, “La Di Die,” hit charts across the world and threw her into the mainstream with performances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Ellen Show.”
Her experiences with her love life are a central theme of her music and this album is no different.
“AFTERCARE”
Starting off strong with the title track, “AFTERCARE” sets the intense tone for the album. Flowing seamlessly into the second track, heavy synth beats and the use of autotune punctuate the lyrics, diving into a dark romance style of pop. “DISCO,” a feature with Tommy Genesis, combines a steady beat with catchy lyrics to give listeners a track they can dance to.
An Emotional Turn
With the third track “HEARTBEAT” taking a more emotional turn, it starts to divide the album into a set of songs that are meant for dancing and a set of songs that are meant for releasing your deepest thoughts. With this second division of the album, the same synth-heavy beats and use of autotune to punctuate the lyrics are present, but with choruses that show off Barrett’s powerful vocals and express a sadness that borders on screaming in pain. Songs “HEARTBEAT,” “BABYDOLL,” “GIVEN ENOUGH” and “PINS AND NEEDLES” show how a kiss can turn into a bite and detail painful experiences with intimate partners.
The most emotional song comes in “RUSSIAN ROULETTE,” a breakup ballad that details the pain of ending things with someone you still love. A break from the synth-heavy beats, this instrument-lead track with choir-backing vocals shows off Barrett’s airy voice in a very Lana Del Reyinspired way.
Another track that breaks up the synth-heavy album is “EDWARD SCISSORHANDS.” Leaning into the gothic elements that Barrett was inspired by, this narrative track is written like a letter to a former lover showing Barrett’s understanding of the pain that was inflicted upon her and expressing sympathy for them by referencing the movie character of the same name.
One of the final tracks, “STAY ALIVE,” really brings the album together. Giving the listener the sense of walking into the club with the first track, “STAY ALIVE” captures the sense of coming down from an emotionally charged night and leaving at the break of dawn.
Barrett has really stepped up her artistry in this album, further solidifying her in the music industry.
