MADE Magazine Summer 2023

DRAMA & ENGLISH Every Friday, I spring out of bed. Why, might you ask? Well, because of new music Friday. Artists tend to drop their new projects or albums on a Friday because it has more chance of getting on that week ’ s charts. So when my alarm started to ring on Friday March 3 rd , I was up, phone in hand, and anticipating the vast array of new tunes to put on. I opened Spotify and clicked on the new releases section, scrolling through, skim reading all the new singles and albums that had been released at midnight that morning. Slightly put out at the measly selection, I was ready to put my phone down and go get ready for school, but just before I did, something caught my eye: Kali Uchis ’ new album ‘ Red Moon on Venus ’ . Now, at that point, I hadn ’ t really listened to much of her stuff, except from the odd song she had with Tyler the Creator, Gorillaz, and of course Don Toliver, but I vaguely remembered someone at school telling me to listen to the album when it dropped this Friday. Still slightly groggy from the rough night ’ s sleep, I sat slovenly on the edge of my bed, phone clutched in my hands as the first notes of ‘ I Wish you Roses ’ rang out, reverberating in my (still half asleep) head. I almost missed the bus that morning because I was too busy dancing in my room to the masterpiece that is ‘ Red Moon on Venus ’ , an album centred around the intense feelings of love, heartbreak, desire, faith and honesty. The transitions between the songs made for such a smooth listen, almost like one long song that takes you to different places of your heart, with Uchis ’ heavenly vocals combined with the masterful production creating a feeling like taking a walk in the sunshine when spring starts to turn to summer; the slow, syncopated beats further the laid back, relaxed vibe. My personal favourites were, of course, the opening song ‘ I Wish you Roses ’ , ‘ Fantasy ’ (featuring Don Toliver), ‘ Endlessly ’ , and ‘ Moonlight ’ , and I heavily suggest you listen to this album. The final song ‘ Happy Now ’ wraps up the album in such a great, feel good way that its almost like all the feelings of heartbreak and lost love are resolved at the end, with this higher BPM, upbeat groove of a track. ‘ Happy Now ’ ends with 15 seconds of calming, soothing sounds of the sea, leaving the listener mesmerised in a state of pure bliss and zen, leaving them to reflect on their own feelings after hearing hers. Album review of 'Red Moon in Venus' by Kali Uchis - Jake Brown