Album Review: Bhelize Don't Cry | Uzi Freyja

A warm welcome to my beloved readers from the cold Athens. Another 9-5 is finally over and it's time for cuddles with my boy-cat on the couch, under a warm fleece blanket. I hope this post finds you in a restful moment as well. Today I'll be writing down my thoughts on a great new discovery randomly brought by Youtube. Uzi Freyja is the case and her latest album 'Bhelize Don't Cry' which feels like a breath of fresh air, bringing character and tension in the overall predictable pop scene of today. Pressing Play >

'I Don't Luv Me' takes off the album audaciously, with Uzi's nerve on the front line, aggressively exorcising hypocrisy through a powerful performance over dark abstraction and hip-hop beats. As the track spills seamlessly into the following 'Anger' the artist is heavily breathing, emphasizing on feelings of oppression and betrayal: 'Lies, lies, lies, I'm so done with the LIES...'. 'Anger' makes me think of the difference between singing and performing. As Freyja's way of breathing screams her fragile emotional state and we are almost given -through sound only- a visual representation of a tired body collapsing. That's true acting talent right here. Talking about acting, the music video for 'Don't Disturb Me' - the single that introduced me to the artist -, gives her all the space to play with her face and body and it completes her bold performance in a rightful way. The direction of the video is also fantastic, with high contrasting visuals, ritualistic dances and Uzi's eyebrows struggling to remain on her face.

Beyond that, 'Don't Disturb Me' is addictive in a unique manner and deserves all the attention in the world. Next up we have 'Talk Sick' which can be easily misheard for 'Your dog's sick' or even 'You're toxic' and that's just pure fun to listen! It's the most sensational piece up to this point and it's interesting to witness the diversity offered both vocally and attitude-wise. Maybe not quite memorable but still deserves a spot into your sex playlist. 'Burn The Witch Burner' grabbed me from the very first second with its otherworldly ethers and Uzi's unapologetically mocking performance: 'Ain’t no way you can body shame me When your face look like nobody'. The underground, club qualities together with Freyja's rapping, laughing and screaming make this a standout track as well as a perfect example of experimental pop music worthy of extensive discussions.

'Love is Unfair' is what I'd call a hip-hop ballad, even though I never imagined I'd ever combine those specific two words to describe a song. Here we witness Freyja's inner dialogue with her wounded self, trying to console her and explain/deconstruct love when it takes forms of brutality and suffering: 'Love is this type of men Who beat your face in the morning kiss and flowers in the evening'. 'Love is Unfair' will remind you of the most toxic relationship of your past, where you didn't know how to set boundaries and you were seeking acceptance by being there for everyone but yourself. The following trio of 'Oulala', 'Spicy Mami' and 'Gyoza' unlocks a whole new level in the game, exotic, playful and light enough to provide a resting station to discharge the darkness and drama of before. Not my cup of tea but definitely a side of the artist to be explored further in future sessions with this LP. And then the volcanic 'Medusa' is erupting all over the place with a massive club beat, devilish synths and a monstrous performance that deserves the -also- masterpiece of a music video it's given. To my ears, 'Medusa', sister to 'Burn the Witch Burner', is what I -from now on- will call a Signature Uzi. The recipe for a Signature Uzi is 25% Uzi outrage, 25% Uzi sassiness, 25% heavy beat and 25% demonic atmosphere.

Now, the last couple of tracks, 'Pick A Side' and 'Mummy and Daddy Issues' felt like Bonus Tracks to me personally. The first one breeds dark verses and fun choruses for the first time, giving the best of both worlds, and that's pretty intriguing. As for the closing 'Mummy and Daddy Issues', it left me with mixed feelings, strongly conflicted by the co-existence between sentimentality and repetition.

To sum up, 'Bhelize Don't Cry' is definitely a full-fledged introduction into Freyja's world that offers a wide range of what she's capable of. It's an album that reminds of the significance of self-expression and experimentation. Uzi's character shines through her raw performance, provoking theatricality and unapologetic cynicism - a blend that looks, sounds and feels liberating. After all, freedom of self is what art and every one of us should strive for. Really looking forward to what's coming next by Uzi! Until next time, take care!

Listen to Uzi Freyja here:

https://uzifreyja.bandcamp.com/album/bhelize-dont-cry