Album Review
4 Stars A vivid and heartfelt album, filled with emotional richness.
Reviewer: Gemma Cockrell
Released: 21st February 2025
Label: Dirty Hit
After making a name for herself with her trio of EPs - ‘19 MASTERS’ (2022), ‘QWERTY I’ (2023), and ‘QWERTY II’ (2024) - Saya Gray’s musical style has displayed a remarkable fusion of vivid, heartfelt songwriting and diverse production. Now, with her debut album ‘SAYA’, she clearly defines the distinction between her musical journey and the road ahead. The album offers an intimate reflection of Saya’s transformative solo journey across Japan following a difficult breakup. She merges soundscapes from folk, pop, and the avant-garde with a newfound emotional clarity, exploring themes of personal development, heartbreak, sorrow, and vulnerability. This is particularly striking in songs like the country-tinged ‘SHELL (OF A MAN)’ and the bass-heavy ‘H.B.W’, both of which highlight her skill in fusing intense emotion with intricate production. Ultimately, these aspects embody what ‘SAYA’ truly represents: a vivid and vulnerable album, rich in emotional depth, occupying its own unique space.
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