Ms. Sey, Things Are Going Just As They Should
If you recognize the name Seinabo Sey, then you know that this unconventional noir-pop practitioner has been on a roll refining her sound since her break-out hit “Younger,” all while garnering up accolades along the way. And if you don’t know her name, then sit back because you’re in for a delightful surprise.
In a music world that’s scared to bare its soul; Sey’s alluring and magnetic voice takes you by the hand, and guides you along on her journey of self discovery. Sey; who was born in Stockholm but frequently moved between Sweden and her musician father’s homeland of Gambia, is a breath of fresh air. Honest, direct and open; Sey’s songs are a document of her life and as her lyrics go — “things are going just as they should.”
Since her burst onto the blog-sphere with her immaculate track “Younger” off her debut EP For Madeleine; this Swedish nightingale has been on a journey to a personal best. Having scored several Hype Machine number ones with the likes of “Hard Time,” “Pistols at Dawn,” and “Younger” — Ms. Sey is now primed to release her highly-anticipated new album, the genre-defying and emotionally honest debut, PRETEND.
Saturated in soul and full of big melodic songs, PRETEND draws on real, and sometimes painful moments we all relate to.
“This album is really all about my life,” she explains. “It’s about everything that’s happened to me. Listening to it, I’ve realized that the way I write, I just try and give advice,” Sey explains. “There’s always some kind of moral story at the end of every song; so it’s like advice to myself in a way.”
In the hypnotic “Words,” one of my favorite tracks, Sey tackles the struggles of finding your place in the world; while making sense of the “smoke and mirrors” that camouflaged the “words” we sometimes don’t want to hear; meanwhile the more aggressive “Hard Time” deals with a good person pushed to their limits, and the battle to come out on top and alive — scars and all.
It’s this strong-mindedness that flows through Pretend, punctuating each song with an inner strength that’s undeniable.
Pop music is at its best when it connects, communicating universal emotions in a way that makes the listener stop in their tracks. PRETEND‘s real gift is its directness and accessibility; its songs may document one person’s life so far, but these are universal truths.
PRETEND‘s release date is October 23rd 2015.
