Album Review: Shoshana Ami’s Baby — A Wild, Wistful Masterpiece of Vulnerability

Music Observer Staff on October 22, 2024

Shoshana Ami’s latest album, Baby, is a raw, emotional journey through the alternative-pop landscape. With its blend of whimsical joy and heart-wrenching honesty, Baby pulls no punches, serving up a dose of vulnerability that’s both refreshing and profound. For anyone tired of overly polished, predictable pop music, this album is a welcome antidote — unfiltered, jagged at times, but brimming with truth.

A Journey of Resilience and Realness

To understand Baby, it helps to understand the artist behind it. Shoshana Ami isn’t your average pop star. Raised on classical music, she was something of a prodigy, mastering the works of Bach by age six. Her path to alt-pop has been as twisty and unexpected as her music, making her work all the more compelling. This isn’t her first foray into the music world — fans may remember her debut album, Pretty Liar, which offered a glimpse into her soul. But Baby takes us deeper, weaving together themes of love, loss, and finding peace amid chaos, all with Ami’s signature wit and emotional depth.

From Ecstatic Love to Unsettling Longing

One of the album’s standout tracks, “I Like It,” opens Baby with an explosion of joyous energy. It feels like a burst of youthful infatuation, delivered with a carefree twirl-around-the-living-room vibe. The repetitive chorus — “Lalalalala, I like like like it” — is irresistibly catchy, lodging itself in your brain for days. It’s playful, uplifting, and brimming with lighthearted charm, the perfect opening salvo for an album that doesn’t shy away from emotional extremes.

But Ami doesn’t let listeners stay in that bubble for long. Just as you’re settling into the light, “Wanna Have Your Baby” drops you into a deeper, more vulnerable space. The song’s longing lyrics — “I wanna have your baby, but I don’t have you” — explore the complexities of desire and unattainable love. It’s a poignant shift, bringing listeners into the all-too-familiar ache of wanting something, or someone, that remains just out of reach.

Heartbreak in its Rawest Form

The album’s emotional rollercoaster continues with “Without You,” a track that hits hard with its stark honesty. “I hit the bottom,” Ami sings, her voice both haunting and fragile. The song is an unflinching portrayal of heartbreak and survival, without a hint of melodrama. Ami’s voice carries the weight of the song’s grief, letting every note resonate with listeners who have felt the sting of loss. It’s simple, direct, and devastating.

Lyrical Wit and Relatability

Ami’s lyrical prowess shines throughout the album, often pairing poignant emotions with clever, relatable lines. In “I’m Not Cool Anymore,” she crafts an anthem for every adult who once dreamed of being a rock star, only to find themselves wanting nothing more than to hide under the covers. It’s self-deprecating in the best way, capturing the disillusionment that comes with growing older, while still holding onto a bit of that youthful defiance.

Then there’s “Mad Man’s World,” a slow-burn track that packs a serious punch. With lyrics that tackle themes of womanhood and power dynamics, it feels like a statement piece — soft on the surface but steely underneath. The song lingers long after it ends, leaving listeners with a lot to think about.

Perfectly Imperfect Production

One of the album’s most striking qualities is its rawness. Baby isn’t a polished, over-produced piece of work — and that’s exactly what makes it so special. At times, the production feels intentionally rough around the edges, giving it a very human, lived-in quality. You can almost hear the isolation of pandemic life in the background, the quiet of Sag Harbor where the album was born, and even the wind whistling through the phone-recorded moments. It feels personal, intimate, like you’re listening in on a private conversation between Ami and her own thoughts.

A Soulful Ode to Survival

If you’ve ever experienced big life changes — be it personal growth, the tumult of a pandemic, or the messy process of finding yourself — Baby is the album you didn’t know you needed. It’s a soulful ode to survival, a tribute to the chaos of motherhood, and a reflection on the messiness of simply being human. Shoshana Ami invites her listeners to sit with their emotions, no matter how uncomfortable, and to find solace in the shared experience of it all.

Final Thoughts

In Baby, Shoshana Ami delivers a wild, wistful masterpiece that doesn’t just entertain — it moves you. The album is not perfect, but that’s precisely where its magic lies. Through its emotional ups and downs, its moments of pure joy and profound sorrow, Baby feels real in a way that so much modern pop music does not. It’s an album for anyone who has felt love, loss, and the complicated mess in between.

And as Ami sings on that opening track, “Lalalalala, I like like like it” — trust me, you will too.

Verdict: Shoshana Ami may not think she’s “cool anymore,” but her fearless authenticity is something we can’t get enough of.

Published by: Nelly Chavez

Kimberly Cole’s New Single “BLOODY MARY”: A Powerful Ode to Self-Acceptance

Music Observer Staff on October 22, 2024

By: Sarah Morton

Kimberly Cole, the energetic and multi-talented pop star, is back with her new single, BLOODY MARY. Now available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music, the track signals a powerful new chapter in Cole’s musical journey—one that reflects raw vulnerability, self-acceptance, and emotional honesty. The song has a deep resonance, blending dark pop elements with gritty hip-hop beats, and is more than just another track; it’s a bold anthem of introspection and reckoning.

At the heart of BLOODY MARY is Cole’s unflinching commitment to telling the truth, both to herself and her audience. The song dives into what she describes as “the things we hide, not just from others, but from ourselves.” This raw emotional transparency has not always been a part of Cole’s creative process, but with this track, she steps into her authentic self. “This song is a confession to myself—a wake-up call to finally be honest with who I am,” Cole explains in a recent Q&A. “The song represents all that is hidden underneath, not in just me, but all of us.”

The single is part of a larger creative evolution for Cole, who first rose to prominence with her Billboard-charting hit Smack You. While that track was a major pop success, Cole admits that her earlier music was influenced by external expectations, especially from industry executives. “I was so heavily concerned with pleasing A&Rs that my creativity was dimmed by sonic culture trends,” she reflects. “Now I just write like a human. And then I sing it. And hope that someone resonates with my humanity.”

Kimberly Cole’s New Single “BLOODY MARY”

Photo Courtesy: JOPR

Cole worked with longtime collaborator and producer Jeeve Ducornet on BLOODY MARY, a creative partnership that spans over 15 years. Ducornet, who also happens to be Cole’s ex-husband, has been a key figure in shaping her sound. “We literally locked ourselves in a creative cave for years developing, producing, experimenting, and finding the ethos to our sound,” she reveals. “We can read each other’s creative minds and have grown together. He’s also my ex-husband. We still create together. Keeps things interesting (and emotional) to say the least.”

This dynamic, emotionally charged working relationship adds depth to the track’s haunting production. Recorded in Cole’s home studio—a sunlit loft in Universal City overlooking the 101 freeway in Los Angeles—the single was created during an intense yet freeing session. “We wrote and recorded it while sipping Bloody Marys in our loft—it was fun, but also intense. Many ‘demons’ were released that day,” Cole shares.

Cole’s collaborators on the track also include co-writer Goldie, with whom she feels a deep artistic connection. “The song is a beautiful collaboration between me and one of my favorite collaborators, Goldie,” she notes. “We have more music together coming soon that hits the depth and the frequency of what I feel my soul authentically needs to say.”

Photo Courtesy: JOPR

Though BLOODY MARY stands out as a raw, cathartic anthem, it’s also a sonic preview of what’s to come in Cole’s evolving discography. “It’s definitely a sonic example of what’s to come,” she says. “I’ve grown up so much since releasing my first single “Smack You”. It took me a divorce, death of a parent, and accidental lies I was telling myself to rip the layers of sunny double entendre-laden pop songs to eventually realize…oh…maybe I should just start telling the truth.”

The lyrics of BLOODY MARY are packed with drama, pain, and anger—an unfiltered exploration of Cole’s personal battles. When asked about the inspiration behind the song, she candidly responds, “I could write three memoirs on why I wrote this song. The song represents a confession to myself. A come-to-Jesus, a wake-up call, a surrender, the start of finally being honest with myself. The start of acceptance.”

This honesty comes with its own set of fears. Cole admits, “I’m afraid to release this record but the difference now is that I’m brave enough to be afraid. That’s the lesson to myself. I want listeners to be brave with me. I want to continue to do the things that scare me and inspire others to do the same.”

Published By: Aize Perez

SGXD Tha Drop: Navigating the Waves of Hip-Hop with Princejae Tha SplashGXD

Music Observer Staff on October 22, 2024

In the ever-evolving tapestry of hip-hop, few artists manage to create ripples, let alone waves that redefine its boundaries. However, Carey Kelly-Woodard, known professionally as Princejae Tha SplashGXD, is not just any artist. Born into a lineage brimming with musical genius—being the son of Carey Kelly and Andrea Lee Woodard and the younger cousin to legends Michael Jackson and Prince—Princejae has carved his unique niche in the industry. His distinctive facial tattoo featuring a 33 inside a dripping heart with a thunderbolt symbolizes his revolutionary approach to music and life. This emblematic image not only defines his persona but also mirrors his contributions to the hip-hop genre through his freestyle ability and the pioneering wave/drip swag.

From Glenville, Cleveland, OH, Princejae embarked on his musical journey in 2007. With almost two decades in the game, he has matured from an aspiring artist into a formidable force within the hip-hop community. His multifaceted talents encompass rapping, singing, and songwriting—fusing elements of hip hop, trap, emo rap, splashwaverap (a term coined by himself), Soundcloud rap, pop rap, and rock-rap into an exhilarating blend that captivates audiences worldwide.

At the helm of SplaughterBoyz collective and Splaughter Ent label (splashwater), Princejae isn’t just making music; he’s nurturing a movement. The roster includes dynamic acts like Mirdagoat , MarzSanity, ChillSeven , SenseiTajjie and FiveGhosts , NOFLTR , Reggieonnabeat, Scotheceo—all testament to Princejae’s vision of fostering talent that resonates with his ethos of innovation and authenticity.

Princejae’s nicknames—Poseidon (SGXD), Lil33, Dripp, Tha Drippa, Tha Dripp, Splash, and Prince Poseidon—reflect not only his enigmatic personality but also underscore his fluidity and adaptability in navigating the vast oceans of musical genres. Each alias encapsulates different facets of his artistry while underscoring a common theme: an indomitable spirit that refuses to be confined.

His social media presence is as vibrant as his career. On Instagram (@splashgxd)and TikTok (@_splashgxd), fans can catch glimpses into Princejae’s world—a world where creativity knows no bounds and every post is an invitation to dive deeper into ‘Dem Sharkz’ territory, as he aptly puts it “Inatwater With Dem Sharkz.” It’s here that followers are treated to behind-the-scenes content, snippets of upcoming projects, and candid moments that bridge the gap between an icon and his audience.

What sets Princejae apart isn’t just his pedigree or even his prolific output; it’s his innate ability to connect on a profound level with listeners through raw emotionality coupled with intricate lyrical craftsmanship. His tracks aren’t merely songs; they’re narratives woven from experiences—a sonic journey that traverses themes of struggle, triumph,resilience, and self-expression.

As we look ahead,the trajectory for SGXD seems poised for unparalleled heights. With each drop,his influence permeates further into cultural consciousness—challenging norms,redefining genres,and inspiring a new generation of artists. In this light, “SGXD Tha Drop” transcends being just another album title; it becomes a declaration, a promise of continued innovation, a splashing entry that disrupts still waters.

In essence, Carey Kelly-Woodard embodies what it means to be more than an artist. He stands as a beacon—a guiding light for aspiring musicians navigating their paths in turbulent tides. His story serves as compelling evidence that heritage does play a role in shaping destiny, but it’s individual flair, courage, and unyielding perseverance that ultimately carve out one’s place in history. Princejae Tha SplashGXD doesn’t just wear multiple hats—he designs them, reinventing himself continually while staying true to core values. This blend of integrity, inventiveness, and undeniable talent ensures not only longevity but also cements him as one integral architect reshaping modern hip-hop landscapes.

Published by: Martin De Juan