The Toronto-based artist had previously released six singles, four of which were collaborations, with vocalists and rappers including Lil Wayne on ‘Ridin’, Big Sean on ‘Shut Up’, Miguel on ‘Jeans’ and Ari Lennox on ‘Just Like That’. Collaboration is a highlight of this album as we find more artists on the final record, such as 6LACK on ‘6lessings’ or Lil Yachty on ‘Head n Headaches’.
The last single she released from the album was ‘Goliath’, in which she explores love and resiliency. The song evokes the intensity of love, struggle and perseverance with its haunting production and soul-stirring vocals.
These six singles served as teasers for the overall vibe of the 21-track album, ‘Paid In Memories’. Throughout this project, the 33-year-old artist seamlessly blends every genre, from soul to latin beats or even alternative rock. If the phrase “don’t let them know your next move” was a record, this would most likely be it.
The album features samples and interpolations. For instance, in ‘Psylocibin & Daisies’, one of her six singles, Jessie Reyez uses the Smashing Pumpkin track ‘1979’. Her song '6lessings', in collaboration with 6LACK, also incorporates the lyric from the popular The Cardigans song ‘Lovefool’: “Love me love me, say that you love me / Fool me, fool me, go on and fool me” but Reyez modifies the second part to say “Hold me, hold me, come on and hold me”. The singer’s way of using past tracks in an innovative way creates tracks that feel both nostalgic and fresh.
‘Paid In Memories’ is a bold declaration of Jessie Reyez’s artistic identity. She demonstrates her versatility by collaborating with a variety of musicians and doing anything she wants without ever losing her distinctive vocals and creative style.
It’s a record for everyone and every mood; do you feel like listening to rock? Listen to ‘Psylocibin & Daisies’ or ‘Been Abouta Year’. Are you in the mood for R&B and soul? Again, no issue, listen to ‘Guess Imu’ or ‘Jeans’. It's also impossible to predict what genre the following song will be because of the variety of genres on a single album; it might be a whole 180 degrees or the same genre.
Lyndsia Alexandre-Alexis
Image: ‘Paid In Memories’ Official Album Cover
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