Indigo de Souza- Complete Artist Review
Complete Artist Review after being recommended to listen to every album. Here you will find an overview of Indigo as well as my personal rankings of all of her records. You will also find my Top 10 Songs as well as a link to an Essentials Playlist in this pages 1st photo
Indigo de Souza
Shoutout to my coworker for suggesting I listen to and review the Indie Rock star and North Carolina native, Indigo de Souza. With only three studio albums and a small handful of singles and EPs, I was able to fully listen to her discography a couple times, which I feel is very important when you set yourself up to dissect and talk about music.
Indigo De Souza's debut album, ‘I Love My Mom’, shows a lot of raw honesty and introspection from de Souza, blending indie rock grit with atmospheric and grimey guitar accents. From the opening track, de Souza’s lyrical openness shines through, delving into themes of self-discovery and worth.
Throughout the record, de Souza's vocals command attention, widly ranging from angsty to vulnerable, which is especially evident in tracks like "Sick in the Head," where dynamic falsettos and energy drive the narrative. ”Smoke” is a gorgeous more down-tempo track and "What Are We Gonna Do" stands out with its dramatic vocal delivery, reminiscent to me of that of The Last Dinner Party, adding great depth to the album's emotional landscape. The track even has some musical swing to it that invites this jazzy feeling that’s refreshing.
"Ghost" got a big laugh out of me. It emerges as a bit of a “modern girl” anthem, balancing the dramatic, silly, and seriousness of relationships in today’s times. The record’s strength lies mainly its lyrical depth and de Souza's unapologetic openness. For most of the record, many tracks exhibit musical sameness, with the standout feature remaining the lyrics and their delivery, reflecting de Souza's journey of self-acceptance and acknowledgment of human imperfection.
‘I Love My Mom’ is a solid debut, that shows a lot of promise for de Souza, displaying her talent for blending vulnerability with power.
Indigo De Souza's latest album, All of This Will End, marks a little more of a departure from her previous work, embracing a more poppy and synth-driven sound while still managing to retain her signature raw and honest lyricism. "Time Back" introduces this shift with its poppy synths, though the lyrics may feel somewhat simplistic compared to her earlier work.
Throughout the album, the guitars return to their grungy and dark roots, but with bright accents from keys, synths, and even whistles, providing a balance between darkness and light. "Losing" stands out as a beautiful exploration of change, both musically and lyrically, before diving into the angsty "Wasting Your Time."
Tracks like "Parking Lot" and "All of This Will End" offer a step back from the anguish, displaying Indigo's signature vocals against bright musical accents. However, "Smog" breaks new ground with its major synthy and poppy atmosphere, featuring exceptional harmonies and a melody you didn’t know you were craving.
"I Love the Water" brings sing-along energy with its horn section, adding an anthemic quality to the album. "Not My Body" and "Young and Dumber" introduce steel pedal guitar, which I am always a sucker for, complementing de Souza’s haunting and expressive vocals, which shine brightly throughout the album.
Overall, All of This Will End sees Indigo De Souza pushing boundaries and exploring new sonic territory while staying true to her emotive lyricism and powerful vocals. It's a sign of her growth as an artist and a worthy addition to her ever growing discography.
Indigo de Souza's sophomore album, Any Shape You Take, takes a much bolder step into experimentation while still retaining the raw honesty that defined her debut. The utilization of auto-tune and vocoder on tracks like "17" shows a growth and willingness to push boundaries rather than copy and paste her first record.
"Darker than Death" slightly returns to the heavier indie rock sound of the previous record but with heightened dynamics and an undeniable X factor. Here de Souza's vocals are expertly varied, adding layers of emotion and intensity to this track. “Die/Cry" continues the trend of expertly crafted melodies and relatable lyrics, truly serving as a standout track that refuses to blend into the background.
Once ”Real Pain" emerges as the centerpiece of the album, you’ll find it offering a deeply artistic and humanizing exploration of emotion. If you know what I am talking about here then big props to you. If not, give it a listen and you’ll soon understand. "Bad Dream" touches on relatable themes again with vocals that shining through. "Hold U" introduces a poppier element to the album, with a catchy hook that really stays with you.
While de Souza describes the record as "grungy anguish," it's evident that it transcends that label, boasting more diversity, with each track standing out individually rather than blending together. Any Shape You Take shows de Souza’s growth as an artist, embracing experimentation while maintaining the authenticity that her fans have come to love. It's a compelling and dynamic addition to her discography that demands repeated listens.
Album Rankings
Any Shape You Take (2021)
All of This Will End (2023)
I Love My Mom (2018)
The Moon is No Good (Boys-EP)
Darker Than Death (Any Shape You Take)
Die/Cry (Any Shape You Take)
Smog (All Of This Will End)
The Water (All Of This Will End)
Younger & Dumber (All Of This Will End)
Not My Body (All Of This Will End)
Parking Lot (All Of This Will End)
Losing (All Of This Will End)
Smoke (I Love My Mom)
TOP 10 SONGS
In No Particular Order
