Written by Danielle Adelaide Cairo
Doja Cat’s new album Vie is an ode to the ‘80s, she incorporates heavy sounds of synthesizers, distinct drum machine beats and gated reverb on drums throughout the album creating an iconic New Wave, Synth-pop sound with her own unique flare. The album paints an image of grand big hair, leopard print, neon colors, and a fiery red lip.
The album opens with the song “Cards,” where a perplexing saxophone comes into play. The song uses a sample from the 1982 classic TV series Knight Rider, a futuristic sound composed of synthesizers, drums, and a bassline. The song has a driving pulse, with moments that emphasize on the beat, leading to that strong and rhythmic energy. “Jealous Type,” is the banging lead single from the album. The groovy synth-pop single makes you wish the doors to Studio 54 were still open just to bust a move on the dancefloor. Full of swaggering synths and ample vocal hooks throughout, this single stands out.
Doja Cat takes the form of many incredible renowned artists throughout the album. Giving an incredible soundscape of sensuality like “His Royal Badness” Prince, whose influence can be sensed throughout the album. Vie is an intensely mega glam-centric album, with visualizations of sequins, shoulder pads, and erratic fashions.
Jack Antonoff produced nine of the tracks off Vie. He is someone which you would call a virtuoso, a master at his craft. He’s worked with amazing artists like Lorde, Sia, and FKA Twigs. Antonoff’s instrumentation direction is superb, from the captivating dynamics in “AAAHH MEN!” to those muffled synths at the beginning of “Take me Dancing” featuring SZA. The album is standoff-ish, in the best way possible, each song depicting a chapter that makes up a book (album) Vie.
Doja Cat is a talented artist, having the gift of singing and rapping, and knowing how to combine the two at a masterly level. Each song evoking a conflict of emotions, but all an expression of relationship patterns, like questioning if she’s taken “Acts of Service”, “Does a key to your flat mean girlfriend?”
Vie is the epitome of who Doja Cat is, in the terms that she doesn’t have to conform to the standard. She is multifaceted, amazing at different things and does not seem to fear in taking risks and it works for her. Maybe her next project will be something completely different, another amazing piece of art.
