Cara Rogers
Trigger warning: mental health, drug abuse
The internet is usually particularly scathing towards TikTok stars who make their move into the music industry. 20-year-old Nessa Barrett, however, may be an exception to that rule, and for good reason!
Since her rise to fame on TikTok in 2019, Barrett has climbed the ranks from social media lip-syncer to a star in her own right. Beginning with her debut single Pain in 2020, moving on to her debut EP Pretty Poison in 2021, and most recently her debut album young forever. Barrett’s discography has firmly established her as one to watch within the industry.
A dark pop style with moody and soulful vocals, Barrett’s latest album is heartbreakingly vulnerable in places. It showcases bittersweet sounds, which make for a touching and emotional listen.
young forever
“Barrett’s heart and struggles are laid bare”
Released on 14th October 2022, Young Forever is a 13-track album written during what the singer describes as “the worst year of [her] life”.
Haunting melodies, minor keys, and dissonant chords – not to mention the pure feeling in Barrett’s lyrics – make her pain undeniable. With a voice often compared to the likes of Billie Eilish: soft, almost whispering at times, Barrett’s heart and struggles are laid bare.
After being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, Barrett explains, she found herself struggling more and more: “I didn’t know how to help myself…didn’t want to help myself…The only thing I did to cope, was write this album.”
Since its release, the album has been dedicated to Barrett’s best friend, Cooper Noriega, who tragically died from a drug overdose in June 2022.
Struggles With Mental Health
Unsurprisingly, listeners get an acute and very open insight into Barrett’s mental health struggles across the album.
Featured track madhouse is strong, punchy, and one of the more typical ‘pop’ songs on the album. It sees Barrett fearing that “They gon’ put me in a madhouse, Shove pills down my throat ‘til I space out”. madhouse is made all the more poignant by knowledge of Barrett’s admittance to a psychiatric hospital in August 2022.
dear god offers a softer, but more haunting, listen as we hear Barrett reach out for help into the unknown: “Dear God, Do you hear me when I’m crying? When I doubt that my soul is worth saving?”. Her pain is palpable and heart-breaking, accentuated through whispering tones and gentle guitar strings.
“a pattern we see throughout the whole album: sweet, soft tones, and painful words and truths.”
In lovebomb, the influence of Barrett’s BPD is unmissable, as she promises the recipient of her words through slow and melancholy melodies that “I’ve calmed down, I’m not manic like before”. It’s a beautiful, gentle lullaby of sorts, contrasting with the relationship conflict of which she sings.
This is a pattern we see throughout the whole album: sweet, soft tones, and painful words and truths. Since the album’s release, Barrett has described that her intention with lovebomb was to “capture what borderline personality disorder really feels like without introducing any stigma or shame.”
Self-Critical Aspects
Fused with an intimate insight into the singer’s mental health struggles are comments on the world around her. In talk to myself, Barrett’s painful self-awareness is clear. Her self-critical voice manifests through her lyrics, tone and punchy rock-inspired backing. There is a nod here to the vast trolling Barrett has faced in her time online, alongside a poignant reminder that as much hurt the world causes, her biggest enemy has always been herself.
“an open letter to society”
unnecessary violence is possibly the peak of Barrett’s references to the cruelty surrounding her. Sharp intervals, alongside a vast crescendo, in the chorus emphasise her bittersweet pleas: “I’m dying for some silence, The words you speak are killing me violently”. The song acts as an open letter to society and to those around Barrett, equal parts painful and beautiful.
Indictment of Society
“a powerful critique of LA surroundings”
Barrett’s indictment of society continues throughout the entire album, made crystal clear in the aptly titled track tired of california.
This song perhaps best captures the dark pop tone with which Barrett has become synonymous. This track has the potential to be yet another LA influencer complaining about their lives, but there’s something striking in Barrett’s voice and words which makes us stop and listen – a powerful critique of her LA surroundings.
In a recent interview with Zach Sang, Barrett’s voice breaks as she speaks of LA, confessing that “I can’t leave”. Raw and honest, tired of california reminds us that Barrett is still just a young girl, caught up in a toxic industry and society.
On the subject of what she hopes her album will do for fans, Barrett says she hopes it will remind them that “they’re not alone.”
“Life sucks, but it does get better. This album is a safe place.”
Featured image courtesy of Yuvraj Singh via Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
cararogers
Cara is a freelance lifestyle and culture writer based in Manchester. When she's not writing opinion pieces about pop culture or the latest social media trends, she's trying out new veggie recipes and listening to podcasts.