Every time I hear a new RnB singer I truly connect with a part of me is scared I’ll find out they’re like 19 years old. That’s always uncomfortable, I’m emotionally immature or this is the wisest high school senior since Malala. Newer RnB favors the young though; as grown as the singers may be, there is a childlike hope that things will work out. “Maybe that person I like will text back” “maybe my ex will get back with me” “Hopefully that girl me and R Kelly were dating at the same time is over 18”. RnB is built off optimism. Even if the song is about heartbreak, there is always hope.
When I first heard of Snoh Aalegra, I was expecting this optimism, this idealistic view of how relationships work. But to my surprise Snoh wasn’t a moody 18 year old who had Drake in her DMs. She’s a gloomy 31 year old who’s disillusioned with relationships. So with that said, let’s get into her album “Ugh-those feels again”.
I don’t know how this Swedish bitch but she found a way to tap into the dating mindset of the Nigga in Jordan’s writing the words you’re reading on the train right now. Seriously, I relate to this album in ways I don’t fully understand. Listening to this album reminds me of the first time I sat on a memory foam mattress: I don’t know what’s happening but I feel safe even though I can’t stop crying. Snoh crafted an album about casually dating someone when you secretly want something more. This is an album for everyone who calls themselves “ethnically non monogamous” when they really mean “I’m terrified of commitment but I still don’t want to wear condoms”. If you’ve ever gone on a tinder date while thinking about the tinder date you had the night before, listen to “Ugh-Those Feels Again”.
Dating in your late 20s early 30s is weird because all of your friends are either married with kids or divorced and cutting their own bangs; it’s a strange time. Snoh’s album is great because it’s coming from the perspective of someone who knows themselves and knows what they want but doesn’t know how to make someone else want the same thing. This is a great album to listen to if you’re thinking about ghosting someone. Something about Snoh’s voice just embodies the idea of “I’m sorry didn’t text back, I’m just going through a lot. Not too much to stop going out and posting on Instagram every 4 hours, but enough that I don’t know how to respond to your “👋🏿👋🏿👋🏿” text.
I can’t think of too much I don’t like about this album, but there is one thing. The cover. When I saw the cover I thought I was about to listen a light skinned black woman sing about how niggas ain’t shit. But when I googled her I saw she was whiter than pre-built IKEA furniture. I’m not sure why they did that to her. Embrace the fact she’s a European; just the B in RnB doesn’t stand for Black, it stands for Blues.
Overall I love this album, after a lackluster “Hot Girl Summer” this album has prepared me for a Sad Nigga September. Overall I give “Ugh-Those Feels Again” 11 “I’ll be up, but are you spending the night” texts out of 12.