Intended to be therapeutic with brutally candid songwriting and enchanting performances, THERA's debut album "I Wish I Called" is an impressive collection of eleven songs; the young and up-and-coming alias has a magnetic voice and paired with expertly crafted productions flowing between styles and genres, the album is nothing short of full-fledged. In these songs, THERA bares her soul, turning into a steadfast companion that dispenses thoughtful lyrics centering on heartbreak, anxiety, and loneliness— a stirring experience effusing warmth and comfort despite the solemness. Let's get to know more about the talented artist and what makes this album rather special.
"Prodigy" would be the correct and deserving label for THERA: the seventeen-year-old has already taken enormous strides in the industry with her first few singles, as even at a young age, she is replete with skills that are necessary to be a proficient singer-songwriter. The management team Sound Inc. has described the Czech vocalist as a 'gem,' additionally proved by the outstanding amount of support that has poured in from all directions; her track "DLTTI" has surpassed over 3 million plays on TikTok, as another track from the aforementioned album called "guardian angel" has been acknowledged by Spotify’s editorial team, getting included in major playlists such as New Music Friday and EQUAL (immense achievements considering her nascency in the scene).
Clear as day, it's evident that THERA appeals to a broad audience with her genuine and authentic approach to music. Describing her album, she mentions how her personal experiences serve as potent messages for those facing desolation, in the hopes that it turns out to be relatable and soothing (which it does to great extents).
"ringing" serves as a gloomy initiation to the album, almost uncanny in its construction; the song has a dystopian configuration with robotic vocals and industrial sound design as the main vocals urge to take a leap by counting down. Smoothly transitioning into "fate," listeners get introduced to the saccharine and moody vocals from THERA, as an alt-pop production with a groovy backbeat and 80s style synths cast a spacious atmosphere. The lyrics here condemn a toxic relationship, expressing its damaging consequences as the vocals demands this abusive lover to 'surrender.' The following track "erase" takes an even more melancholic and cynical turn, shifting into a punk-rock getup with grungy guitars that bring out the dejection felt by the songstress.
By the time we reach the fifth track "DLTTI" (which has gathered nearly a hundred thousand streams), THERA boldly targets the unrealistic criteria and fake facades propagated by social media over a Billie Eilish-style trap-pop record, turning it a notch dramatic with strings and pizzicato (not excluding police sirens). In the sentimental "rain," vulnerabilities and apprehension take over the vocalist as she expresses how overthinking and pessimism have ruined her life; here the instrumental remains scarce at first with only an electric guitar, steadily introducing synths and ending on a rhythmic sequence with the flowing bass and sparse drums (punctuated with a steel pedal guitar to emphasize the blues). "stain" quickly became our favorite with its bittersweet and muted pianoforte, as the vocals open up about a chaotic breakup— in the second half, the tune takes a more striding pace with melodic guitars and ethereal backing harmonies. To mark its ending, "dying tone" is a sentimental conclusion featuring a phone call snippet from a bereaved lover voicing the pain endured in a past relationship; all the while, the background is accentuated by delicate melodies from a piano and lush vocal.
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