Baby Queen Doesn't Shy Away From the Chaos and Confusion of Her 'Quarter Life Crisis'
Since her debut in 2020, Baby Queen has successfully combined her poignant perspective on generational experience with personal storytelling. From growing up in South Africa to moving to London at 18 to follow her dreams, Arabella has connected with a global audience through her pragmatic lyricism and infectious pop sensibility.
A student of artists like Taylor Swift and The 1975, Baby Queen doesn't shy away from putting her deepest insecurities and toxic habits at the forefront in order to voice the struggles of growing up with the internet. Her debut album, Quarter Life Crisis, plays out like a series of diary entries, with each song detailing the peculiarity of coming of age once again. In typical Baby Queen fashion, one moment she’ll share an anecdote so personal it feels like a violation, and the next, an all too accurate observation on the collective Gen Z.
“We Can Be Anything,” a previously released single, is the perfect introduction to an album that dives into the intricacies of growing up in the 21st century. We hear Baby Queen battle her own pessimism while showcasing her natural storytelling abilities. It’s a track for dancing through the pain and embracing the unknown. We’re given witness to the constant back and forth of a psyche that knows the world sucks but finds comfort in the fact that nothing matters as a result.
In “kid genius,” the rising star calls back to her debut single “Internet Religion.” With endless quips and ironic call-outs, Baby Queen’s sharp take on internet culture explodes. “Dream Girl,” a sparkling but sad pop moment, details being obsessed with the object of your affection’s object of affection. “i can’t get my shit together” is another self-aware anthem—Baby Queen’s specialty. “Love Killer,” like many songs on the album, feels made for a live audience. Addressing intimacy issues, poking fun at religion, and using references that paint a full visual picture, Baby Queen lists all the reasons love seems to fizzle in her grasp.
Having mastered the art of the cynical bop, Baby Queen also makes space for more serious tracks in Quarter Life Crisis. Take “Grow Up,” her take on a somber ballad that gets real about her own inability to leave childhood behind. It’s all in the delivery as she states, “If I could grow up, I would grow the fuck... up” with a reverb on her voice that competes for the most powerful moment on the project.
The titular “Quarter Life Crisis” comes in over halfway through the album but captures the overall feeling of Baby Queen’s musical footprint. The vigorous passion in her vocal delivery of the chorus and cinematic, sweeping production come together to create a catalog highlight for the rising star. In “Die Alone,” we hear a matter-of-fact realization that instead of experiencing romance like everyone else her age, she is more likely to be found under the covers playing Super Mario Bros. This acute self-examination carries over into the gut-wrenching track that is “Obvious,” a dedication to her sacrifice of leaving home to pursue a career in music.
“23” picks back up the pace but doesn’t spare any details on the anxieties of being in your early 20s. The repeated lyrical mantra, “Live a little bit, you’re 23,” sums up the reality that with access to the internet, it’s almost impossible to unplug from the world and enjoy being young. The album ends on a sentimental note, with a track titled “a letter to myself at 17.” It’s just what it sounds like, a confessional delivered straight to her past self. It’s a beautiful way to end a debut album, culminating the final lyric, “Try to be happy / you might be if only you knew / that your wildest dreams came true.”
Baby Queen has a lot to say. The amount of topics explored on her debut album is commendable and the way they’re presented is a testament to her natural ability to convey difficult emotions through music. After listening to Quarter Life Crisis, it’s safe to say the sacrifices made were well worth it. With a sold-out UK tour and upcoming shows in NYC and LA, we can’t wait to see what’s next for this budding pop voice.
Listen to Quarter Life Crisis below:
