Iโve never really understood the hype behind Sza. I mean yeah sheโs got a good voice and she sounds generally good as a guest feature but you canโt convince me that her last tape,ย Z was anything but boring. There was nothing on there that stood out to me and it was a project that had almost zero replay value. Granted, this is the only project Iโve heard of hers but it wasnโt a good first impression. Being the music conisseur I am however, Iโm willing to give her one more chance to show me sheโs more than TDE hype, but if her debut,ย Ctrl,ย couldnโt impress me, then sheโs just not for me.
A large reason why I never could connect with her music was due to her production. Iโm all for slower, more laid back music but what I heard onย Z was so lethargic and uninteresting that it felt like a grind to get through a song. I donโt know if she was conscious of this but the songs onย Ctrl all have much more pep and pop to them while still maintaining much of that chilled, almost nonchalant style she has. Overall the album was extremely well produced with a cohesive sound that blended elements of R&B and neo-soul to create a sound all her own. โSupermodelโ, โLove Galoreโ, โdrew Barrymoreโ, and โBroken Clocksโ are the highlights of the album for me and would probably be the songs Iโd refer someone to who was unfamiliar with SZA.
โI get so lonely, I forget what Iโm worth
We get so lonely, we pretend that this works
Iโm so ashamed of myself think I need therapy-y-y-y
Iโm sorry Iโm not more attractive
Iโm sorry Iโm not more ladylikeโ
Even though I was skeptical about her true talent and appeal, Iโve never doubted that the girl can sing. Sheโs got such a great silky smooth voice thatโs so easy to listen to throughout the course ofย Ctrl. She doesnโt have big power ballads nor does she bang out glass rattling high notes but she croons out soft melodies that lend themselves perfectly to her musicโs more jazz like quality. What really sets her apart and whatโs probably her main appeal is just how emotionally raw and revealing she gets with her music, almost to the point of self deprecation. Sheโs strong but sheโs not afraid to show her vulnerable side. Thereโs such an open, honest feel to her music that I couldnโt help but feel drawn in. Crtl made me a believer; there is something to the hype.
Have you heard Ctrl? Whatโd you think about it? Was it everything you wanted out of her debut? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your own ratings and reactions to the album.
