On the cover art of her debut album “U, Me & My Ego”, XO Records signee Chxrry looks over her shoulder through a sheer mask, her tongue grazing her shoulder suggestively. A fan online points out that there is something feline about this gesture–cats are known to groom themselves as a way to self-soothe after a stressful situation. The sheer mask, a staple in her visuals leading up to the album, also points to an attempt to conceal something from the audience. The user interprets this image in line with the themes of the album, which at first comes across as a brazen declaration of her confidence and worth, but on further listening actually reveals her powerlessness in love.
With this understanding in mind, the persona Chxrry embodies throughout the project becomes clearer–this is a woman who is painfully aware of how vulnerable being in love makes her, and she combats this feeling by fueling her ego until it is big enough to hide behind. The arrangement of the ten track record also suggests this–the listener has to delve deeper into the project to really unearth this side of her. The first three tracks carry a heady amount of self-confidence–from the bold opening track “Blockstar” to the playfully toxic “U, Me & My Ego”, where she describes her ego as her “ better side” when she’s looking in the mirror. The third track “Hall of Fame” shimmers with this same irresistible glamour, but by “Bible” we understand that the persona that has been presented to us thus far is a shield for the jaded lovergirl that lies beneath. On “Bible” Chxrry holds nothing back, admitting to things most women in love would never admit even to themselves. “God could say you’re not the one, if you text me I’ll still come”, she sings, expressing a feeling so intense she would defy the divine to chase after it.
Over the course of the album, Chxrry explores the various layers and coping mechanisms of a typical lovergirl. She taps into her unhinged side on fan favourite “Call Security”, a funk pop track on which she threatens to be her lover’s ender. “I’m not leaving until one of us ain’t breathing” she sings on the bridge, an all-or-nothing declaration that is both a warning and a revelation. On soulful RnB number “Boring”, she plays the part of a woman who would rather have a toxic lover who excites her than a safe one who bores her–the lines ”I want to argue in the middle of Manhattan//I’ll lower my standards, as long as you ain’t boring” are particularly memorable, speaking to a relatable desire for romantic chaos over calm. On “Badness” (feat. Cash Cobain), we see a tendency to bait her lover with reminders of her desirability–“If you don’t want me, I know that the club will”. Here, her “badness” is a shield from her lover’s indifference.
Everything, down to the features, is intentional. Sultry single “Bottles & Lights” features Mariah The Scientist, the RnB songstress famous–amongst other things–for her turbulent relationship with rapper Young Thug. Throughout the record Chxrry expertly captures the female psyche in love with realness that is refreshing and unabashed, so much so that listeners are likely to feel uncomfortable during the first listen. Her almost unpalatable honesty is balanced out by the sleek finesse with which she harmonizes alt-pop and RnB sounds, creating a project that softens the blow of love’s trials with its buoyant, sparkling quality.
