Saya Gray - Saya

We only have ourselves at the end of it all!

Here it is — sophomore studio album SAYA by Canadian singer, producer, and songwriter Saya Gray. It's a break-up album, but most importantly, — a record "to drop the shit you don't want and to pick up what you need." And boy, do we need albums like this!

The first track, "..THUS IS WHY ( I DON'T SPRING 4 LOVE )", perfectly sets the tone for the record with its quirky, poppy sounds, playful lyrics, and tongue-in-cheek attitude that is going to be consistent on this record. But simultaneously we get the first piece of the whole story of self-discovery and rebirth: "Where were you when I needed you most?" And we find empowering statements, like on the track "10 WAYS ( TO LOSE A CROWN )," that remind you to take care of yourself, stay grounded, and keep your heart open. But on tracks like "PUDDLE ( OF ME )," we see the downside of the story: you're so obsessed with a person that you're ready to become a voodoo "with a needle and thread pulling in and out of you." There's this reckless attitude to this song, but at the same time — a feeling of joy of submission that you can share with your significant one for a while, as Saya's heroine is the one that "makes your dust turn to sparkle," — the lines from a closing track, "LIE DOWN..".

But the top contender for the most heart-wrenching moment of the album that deserves a special shout-out — is track "H.B.W." It's groovy and holds the emotional weight — and the vocals here are exceptionally haunting on lines "Woke up in a heartbreak wake. / There's a graveyard in my dreams. / I lay a flower once a week."

But apart from the vivid and memorable imagery seen on this record, the overall songwriting on this one lends itself well to the "bedroom-pop" genre, as we have something personal and confessional.

However, the core of the artistry here lies in a rich music palette, as we have a great blend of synth-pop, indie-folk, and alternative rock elements, that are ecstatic and intimate at the same time. Saya is here to deliver something audacious with no limits of self-expression — whether it's an outro with unhinged ad-libs of "hee-how-how" sounds on "LINE BACK 22" — or an explosive, nu metal outro on "EXHAUST THE TOPIC." And that unique approach to unconventional production with great attention to detail is why this record is worth listening to.

8.0/10