"All Because I Liked Men": YGUANA is remarkably charismatic in her debut dance-pop EP.
- asonginlife
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
After dedicating years to learning the ropes of the music industry, YGUANA has struck a bold entry into the pop realm with the colorful, yet refreshingly direct All Because I Liked Men. The EP offers confectionery hooks expected from a dance-pop project, but not shying away from candor in its songwriting— YGUANA's upfront lyricism is an effective medium for true feelings, be it stinging heartbreak or indulgent self-love.
Some might deem YGUANA's sudden emergence as initial steps into the scene; this couldn't be further from the truth. The Romanian singer-songwriter has shared a lifelong devotion to music and industriously pursued the art. Since then, she has achieved much, such as fostering her talents in uber-competitive scenarios (The Voice Romania and Eurovision), while being involved as backup and lead vocalist on The Voice and Dancing With The Stars.
Hard work and passion paid off eventually and rewarded her with an international breakthrough: She became the sole artist from Romania to earn a coveted place in the JBL x Martin Garrix Academy (based in Amsterdam). Over time, a slew of top labels and artists like BMG, Edward Maya, Universal Music, and others have sought YGUANA's singing and songwriting experience for various successful projects.
"All Because I Liked Men" distinctly bears memorable trademarks that mold it into a strong opening statement and separate it from glossy, filler pop circulating in abundance. YGUANA's soulful voice contains a tenacity that is downright seductive, and resonates a wide spectrum of sentiments like hurtful remorse and playful audacity.
The EP is set in motion by the starry synth-pop tune "Love of My Life"— composed with glimmering synths and a breezy beat, YGUANA's upbeat rendition is comfortingly romantic, determined to give her love fully despite odds. The midtempo track "Words of Liar" reveals that the vocalist's heart is shattered after treachery, the cathartic lyricism rueful for falling in love. "Mirror, Mirror" stirs up drama with stomping, punchy hooks, as the sassy vocals shrug off bad vibes and embrace flaws. The EP ends on "Puppet," a dynamic finisher with plucky deep house beat and an ear-candy chorus, all coming together as a defiant performance refusing to be manipulated and pulled by the heartstrings.