In this haunting and heavenly album, Nessa Barrett portrays the harsh realities of objectification while simultaneously embracing sensuality; ultimately begging the question: “Will you stay when it ends?”
On the surface, “AFTERCARE” may seem simplistic, but Nessa and her team put everything on the table with raw lyrics, angelic vocals and seamless transitions in between each song, making this a beautiful and cohesive project that tells like an honest story.
“AFTERCARE,” the first track, begins with sensual words of connection that paint a touching picture of want and longing, starting the album off strong with a dive into emotion. With a truly unique sound, this track is a sonic experience. Opening the album with a feeling of transcendence through distortion, whispers, and ambient instrumentals, truly draws you in. The lyrics are barely audible, haunting the track with the essence of imagery like “dripping in lace, your favorite sin.” The physicality in the lyrics set the stage for vulnerability as it is a captivating dive into the atmosphere of craving connection that permeates the album.
“P*RNSTAR,” the biggest song on the album, is a gritty electro track with dashes of rock which sees Barrett take ownership of an intimate relationship, while also using the experience to shed and show her emotional layers and authenticity to her partner. Nessa allows you to go wild with excitement on the second track of this album. She infuses this song with a dance inspiring, dark pop style and the pulsing high key singing through the chorus will have your heart racing and body swaying with the lively beat. Allowing you to feel bold, “P*RNSTAR” is an empowering journey into what it is like craving intimacy.
Besides other standout tracks such as “HEARTBEAT” and “DISCO,” the lead single “PASSENGER PRINCESS” is as addictive as ever as it mixes a perky synth pop sound with a tinge of darkness as it tells of the early days of a relationship where you will do anything for the person you love. With clear and honest expressions of devotion, the lyrics are demanding and excitingly romantic. Phrases like “say you’re all mine” add the possessive intensity into the song.
After another album highlight, “MUSTANG BABY,” the album moves into a different gear in the middle, with the ballad “RUSSIAN ROULETTE.” Beginning with just a piano and Barett’s voice, it gradually builds with strings and a subtle beat. The emotive lyrics speak of both the overpowering and unpredictable nature of love.The concept of eternity and closeness will captivate you through this heartfelt track. Even through trials and tribulations, and the way “love can turn a red heart black and blue,” the singer clings to her love like a lifeline. Gentle and low, Nessa’s vocals slowly work through the verses, joined by strings and bells, creating a sensational sound that transcends listeners into their ideas of heaven.
After talking about sacrificing everything on “GIVEN ENOUGH”, how damaged people hurt people in “EDWARD SCISSORHANDS”, and control in “GLITTER AND VIOLENCE”, Nessa Barrett stops you in your tracks with the thirteenth song on the album, “PINS AND NEEDLES.” Gliding into this song, straight from the last, with a seamless transition of an electronic pattern of notes that continue on through the verse, this track embodies the post-breakup numbness you can feel when a relationship has left you remorselessly detached. Erasing the person from existence in their history, Barrett builds an impenetrable shield of words, allowing no thought of her ex to seep back in. Soft vocals repeat “Who are you?” in the pre-chorus, offering a hazy feeling before the louder, bolder vocals and instrumentals that are presented in the chorus allowing you to escape into its ambient sound.
Nessa Barret finishes her standard version of this album off with “STAY ALIVE,” a glorious synth disco-tinged pop track, right before the album closes with the second single “DIRTY LITTLE SECRET,” a indie-electro mix with grimy beats that bring in a delicious synth breakdown in the final minute. It is the perfect end to an album with empowerment running through its veins.
Nessa Barrett’s “AFTERCARE” is an evocative exploration of vulnerability and resilience showcasing her growth as an artist and individual. The album delves into the heartbreak, healing, and self discovery, with each track revealing a raw and honest perspective on emotional struggles.
Barrett’s haunting vocals and lyrics resonate deeply, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences with love and loss. The production complimenting her sound creates an atmospheric backdrop that enhances the album’s themes that she carries on in five newly released tracks on “AFTERCARE DELUXE”. Overall, this album stands as a testament to Barrett’s artistic evolution and her ability to connect with her audience on a profound level.
