The Nashville-born singer Samia drops her sophomore album, Honey, on a cover soaked in blue. Honestly, Honey isn’t referring to anything sweet, but a past time where she called a lover “honey.”
Riddled with topics of broken relationships, toxic behavior and addiction like in “Breathing Song,” the imitate experience is not a sweet, warm hug. It gradually pulls listeners to observe the many scars that shape the singer into the beacon many fans see her.
Honey opens with the first single, “Kill Her Freak Out,” a vigil organ lets a breath go. Samia fictitiously eulogizes killing an ex’s new lover over wails of pain. But the deadpan, heart-crushing storytelling breaks into a straight confession. “Can I tell you something?” she sings, her voice close: “I’ve never felt so unworthy of loving.”
Perhaps that’s the album’s message: overcoming such a vocalization through introspection and outwardly dark moments. Through soft rock to stark depleted callouts, Honey sees a shifting in the artist’s blue– however slow and bittersweet.
Favorite Tracks
Kill Her Freak Out
The first track marks an end to lots of things, from the funeral organ to the ironic, feathery insatiable train of thoughts for lyrics. The listener steps into something haphazard, dark and not necessarily true. However, the unhinged opener paints a portrait of a true lived experience seeing the light of day. A eulogy of sorts.
I wrote ‘Kill Her Freak Out’ at my loneliest and most delusional. I’d been quieting my true feelings for fear that someone would leave. The chorus is a reaction to constantly downplaying the emotions that felt wrong; it was cathartic to say the opposite of what I’d been saying for so long to this person I was trying to impress. I didn’t want to kill anyone, obviously, I just wanted to yell. It sort of marks the end of The Baby‘s story.
Samia via Press Release
Pink Balloon
Samia recounts a broken friendship that’s emotionally burnt-out and disconnected. The unfiltered, harsh lyrics feel penned by Sylvia Plath herself, and, besides the eerie music video, it’s like the “Bell Jar” came to life. “Pink Balloon” is a metaphor not fully realized but a laundry list of seemingly insurmountable and lonely problems. The opportunity for connection is long gone.
Sea Lions
The quiet doesn’t last long; it unfurls into something else. Here, the singer accepts the fate of their dead friendship in stark stillness. The slight pulse and synth slowly bleed into a more upbeat outro of synths, vocalizations, and an affirmation that rides out the hurt.
I wrote this in 15 minutes. Was just angry. It shares the sentient of “Pink Balloon” – it’s about the same story of a broken friendship. I remember feeling like I finally nailed the thesis I’d bee trying to write for a year when I got “I don’t wanna work it out // I just wanna see your house.” Caleb [Wright] turned it into the feeling of running it off. This song resolved things for me. It’s supposed to be liberating. In on-off switch. I saw the house!
Samia via a handwritten letter sent out to fans
Breathing Song
Samia explained that the tracks “Honey” and “Breathing Song” are “two sides of the same coin,” both detailing a time when she used alcohol as a distraction from pain. Prior to releasing the dual singles, She told fans to enjoy “Honey,” claiming “Breathing Song” is “probably the least enjoyable song of all time.”
Spoiler alert, She’s right. The pure agony of her building Nos ends in a screaming match that is completely haunting and gut-wrenching. This song is the album’s “Oh Sh*t” moment.
Amelia
Probably the only upbeat song on the album. The thrumming guitars and perfect harmonies feel right. It’s bubbly, plus everyone can use a good break from crying. On “Amelia,” Samia is enamored by another person’s goodness and uplifts how she views her life. You can feel it under the synths and do-dos. Here the shifting from the blue begins!
What do you think of Samina’s sophomore album, Honey? Let us know in the comments!
