Zoe Bayani's highly anticipated debut album, 'You Don't Want Help', takes listeners on an emotional rollercoaster through the aftermath of a devastating breakup. The Atlanta-based singer-songwriter has poured her heart and soul into this project, and it shows in every raw and emotive vocal.
Bayani's songwriting is deeply personal and relatable, capturing the rollercoaster of emotions that follow heartbreak. From mellow, hazy tracks that evoke the feeling of letting days slip by in mourning to anthemic scream-alongs perfect for cathartic release, the album covers a wide range of emotional territory. The witty lyrics and literal storytelling resonate with listeners, providing something to relate to and apply to their own lives.
Opening track 'My Dog’ tells it all, with Zoe building on her dreamy Americana-indie perfectly. It's a song that shifts her focus to deliver some unexpected, but very welcome twists and turns. Through ethereal guitar that drifts in waves, Zoe builds the new single, cutting into your consciousness with opening lines, “Do I look familiar in your beholding eye? Do you see the beauty that you had known as just a child?"
The album's focus track, 'Prophet', is a similar standout. A feel-good, vengeful breakup anthem, it captures the experience of feeling used for someone else's character development. It's the perfect soundtrack for moments of catharsis - whether you're belting out the lyrics on a long drive or dancing it out in the bathroom mirror. Bayani describes it as "fun and summery while still being raw and emotional," a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the album's overall tone.
It's an album of personal reflections, honest moments, and gorgeous, transforming sounds, moving effortlessly through songs and leaving you spellbound. It's a release that drifts poignantly towards the spellbinding close of 'Body Farm' and 'Bummer', two emotionally driven tracks that break you down and leave a lasting impression.
Bayani's sound is a unique blend of 70s Americana and 90s Soft Grunge, creating a familiar yet fresh feel. Her music transports listeners into her self-proclaimed melancholy, offering an immersive experience that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.
'You Don't Want Help' is a powerful debut from a promising young artist. Bayani's ability to create a sound that is both current and nostalgic, coupled with her introspective songwriting, makes her a force to be reckoned with in the music scene. At just 22 years old, she's already carving out her own niche, and we can't wait to see what she does next.
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