Chappell

Weekly, I ask myself ’what inspired me in the music industry this week?’ as a poor man’s prompt to force myself to write something to capture this point of time where my head was at musically this week. And well, unashamedly, it’s Chappell Roan this week.

Prior to this week, I had no idea she existed, have no recollection of how she came across my path, but however she came into my life… I’m here for it. Her latest album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess just slaps. I listened to it several days this week. It’s brash, the production quality is excellent, her lyrics are really honest and frankly, it kept making me think ‘this is what King Princess wishes she could be.’ (and sorry to King Princess. After a few early tracks that I enjoyed, I’ve just never resonated with your stuff as much as I wanted to). But man, I’m posting a few of my new favorite tracks below.

I’m hearing Imogen (of course), Robyn, Caroline Polachek, some of the rawness of Olivia, some of the go-eff-yourself Madonna attitude in here. It’s clear she’s comfortable in her skin and I’m here for it. The lyrics in CASUAL (above) are just insane and great. Reader, let me tell you that the fact that I EVEN hear the lyrics in this album is something to call out. I always hear and absorb (and memorize) melodies and I can sing so many damn of them, but I NEVER hear lyrics because I’ve frankly never felt I write them well myself, so i just .. turn them off in my brain somehow. So, the fact that Chappell can a) break through whatever mental lyric block I have is impressive, and then b) MAKE ME IMPRESSED with them, is .. just wow.

Also, I highly recommend her Tiny Desk.