CHXRRY’S READY FOR HER DEBUT
Chxrry is bringing back audacity in a music landscape that’s become uninspired in the age of AI and rush for 15 seconds of social media fame. The Toronto based songstress crossed my rotation back in 2022, around the time she signed to The Weeknd’s label XO Records and became the First Lady of the alternative r&b roster of artists. Songs like “The Falls” “Call Me” and my personal fav “Around” were late night ride around, sensual and sonically cinematic cuts that made me curious to dive deeper into Chxrry’s catalogue and experience where her unapologetic bars and moody production could evolve into with a full project. Four years later Chxrry is ready to properly give us a taste of her artistry and as her star continues to rise, U, Me & My Ego is a bold, precise body of work showcasing a human that isn’t afraid to embrace the layered intricacies of our egos and how they impact who we are and how we love.
Throughout the 10 tracks Chxrry unravels the concept of ego and brings us into her rockstar lifestyle. On the opener “Blockstar” Chxrry’s in her brightest, most cocky form raging over trap production letting us know she’s on a mission to make us fall in love with her music. Alongside her executive producer Believve the duo brings her vision to life taking us on a high octane synth-pop ride on “Hall Of Fame”. The slinky electronic warning shot on “Call Security” commands your attention as she confronts a cheating lover and the sidechick on his arm. “Boring” details wanting a lover that might be toxic but keeps things exciting, “I want a show / baby lights camera action / I need fast whips and fast lips and accents / I wanna argue in the middle of Manhattan.” I wore out the live preview of the Mariah The Scientist assisted “Bottles & Lights” for months and the official netxel chirp filled version didn’t disappoint.
Chxrry is proudly carrying the torch for a specific range of eclectic 2000s artists that could give us songs for the Pop charts, clubs and late night moments of reflection when the feelings can’t be avoided by daily distractions and shots of 42. The Blockstar has always referenced her love for this era in music and the women that didn’t want to be put into a box. Think Cassie in 2012 with a freshly half shaved mohawk, urging us to escape to the dance floor with the dark, electropop “King of Hearts”. On the opposite end of the genre spectrum Keyshia Cole has been cited as a source of vocal inspiration and whenever I listen to a Chxrry song I can hear the intention put into her authenticity in the songs she writes (Chxrry wrote every song on this project alongside Believve). The lyrics are coming from her perspective. The production is what she wants to add to the pop culture zeitgeist and its makes an album like this one so satisfying to hear because it doesn’t feel like a safe effort for Billboard recognition.
Dropping a 10 track debut album in an era where labels encourage glutonus 20+ track albums hoping something penetrates the algorithm has left us with a lot of uninspired, hollow, sonical fast food that won’t be remebered in three months. U, Me & My Ego will be on heavy rotation as the weather warms up and will be the soundtrack to my nights out and moments of reflecting on where my ego is taking me. After listening to this album and reading Chxrry’s features on The Fader and Interview Magazine, I think her ego is going to bring her everything she desires:
But I don’t look at ego like a negative thing. I don’t look at it as a thing that’s like, “Fuck you, I’m better than you.” And that’s what this album’s about. It’s challenging the word and the taboo behind it. Why is it so negative, especially with women? Ego is just another layer of how confident you are. I don’t think I’m better than anyone else, but I do think I’m the best.
Add to rotation: Hall Of Fame, Call Security, Badness (Feat. Cash Cobain), Bottles & Lights (Feat. Mariah The Scientist)
Skip: Bible
