Review: LUCI’s New Album ‘They Say They Love You’ is a display of a dynamic voice in the indie world
LUCI accomplishes what she set out to do on her full-length debut: speak her truth in a way that compliments her fully-formed artistic integrity for all its quirks and disruption of the contemporary music world.
Nearly a year before the release of her debut album, They Say They Love You, lead single “11:11” gave a sneak peek at the kind of reflective and, at times, industrial dance jams NYC-based singer-songwriter LUCI would be furthering and has evidently perfected across all 10 tracks. Despite coming from a rough period when LUCI was gathering herself from an especially painful breakup, the album is host to a number of highs, tracking her mental health process with a crystal clarity that’s brave for an artist to come right out the gate with. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, if EP Juvenilia is anything to judge, LUCI accomplishes what she set out to do on her full-length debut: speak her truth in a way that compliments her fully-formed artistic integrity for all its quirks and disruption of the contemporary music world.
Emphasizes the Importance of Self-Love
Don’t let the short tracklist and runtime deceive you; LUCI manages to pack an entire journey of self-discovery while highlighting her strengths, particularly her vocals. “Spins,” perhaps more than any other track, embodies how she arrived at caring for herself through multiple obstacles seemingly purposefully stacked against her. The rawness in her high-pitched vocals, a byproduct of a late-night spur that fueled the song’s creation, punctures the electronic instrumental, contrasting her voice every passing second. Aside from the gentle synths fluttering in the background, it would be more accurate to characterize “Spins” as a highly polished vent based on the rapping, settled in a place of braggadocio and insecurity. Even though other tracks like “Call Jane” and “Stay Steady” more overtly dig into LUCI’s resilience, the openness shown in “Spins” and other similar songs allows her not to embellish any detail, potentially giving listeners a first-hand experience they could relate to.
Hypnotic Production
In the same way her voice is often surprising, the production of They Say They Love You takes the chameleonic style of Juvenilia to another level. Of course, “11:11” is still as much of a radio-ready hit as when it came out, serving as the apex of what LUCI can do with so little. However, “Morning Wine” gives the single a run for its money, partly because of drummer/producer Stella Mozgawa’s contributions on the instrumental front. Subtle strings populate the song’s first half before matters are kicked into high gear when Mozgawa’s drums enter the fray, matching the intensity in LUCI’s vocals. The song, a testament to the catharsis on the album, is LUCI at her best, reaching a perfect harmony between the operatic electronic music and an ever-so-dynamic voice that is truly the album’s strong suit.
“Lips” also leaves an impression early on in the tracklist, taking on a near psychedelic trace through the rhythmic, Caribbean-inflicted digital percussion. Like a snake charmer’s flute, LUCI lures you into a seductive state of mind emerging from pure carnal desires. While admittedly a slight departure from the album’s overall themes, the lyrics, inspired by NYC’s various LGBTQ+ and POC-inclusive spaces, speak to the places that helped LUCI arrive at her current mindset.
Guiding Listeners Through Her Mind
To call They Say They Love You a personal album would be an understatement. LUCI not only allows listeners to experience her thoughts and feelings expressed on every track, but she does so in song structures that warrant the kind of attention that proves she’s ready to explode in popularity at any moment. “Call Jane,” which details how her therapist helped navigate her mind, also doubles as a contender for LUCI’s best song to date. Backed by meditative production, the unfiltered emotions fired off in three and a half minutes could be interpreted as an effort to dramatize previous therapy sessions, showing how LUCI bears her soul whenever possible.
Appropriately, album closer “Stay Steady” emerges on the other side with a newfound aggressive energy that teases a possible new direction LUCI could take in later songs. Over a beat undoubtedly meant to evoke modern hip-hop, the stirring vocals are a welcomed surprise; they stand in stark contrast to what a rapper or other singer might do with the beat, exemplifying the creativity heard throughout the album.
LUCI’s Juvenilia EP already cemented her as someone whose career was one to watch based on the fully-formed fusion of styles and high-quality songwriting not always exhibited when an emerging artist is still starting off. In the two years since she made a splash in 2022 and quickly found a pocket within the electronic/R&B sphere, LUCI shows no stopping when it comes to experimentation.
Considering this is her debut, it’s only fitting that They Say They Love You brings her back to North Carolina with an Aug. 24 show in her home state. While there’s no word on whether or not a tour is in the near future, it’s not hard to picture crowds coming in droves to a LUCI show simply to witness the idiosyncrasy of LUCI.
Visit LUCI on her Instagram and TikTok to stay updated on new releases and potential tour announcements.
