James the Seventh Gives a Sonic Form to Her Desire For Catharsis in "Just Let Me Cry"
Can’t a girl just lose full control of her emotional well-being and scream out the pent-up despair welling in her eyes every once in a while? Is that such a crime?!!?! Korean-American alternative pop artist James the Seventh is reclaiming her rage in the eclectic dream pop track “Just Let Me Cry,” and it’s a relief for all of us.
Composed alongside Oren Yoel, “Just Let Me Cry” feels reminiscent of ‘80s dance-pop, easily disguising itself in a vintage dance fitness montage. It very clearly deepens the range of the Pennsylvania-based singer-songwriter, with her solidifying 2021 single “When the Night Begins to Fall” introducing us to a much more melancholic tone.
Anger, rage, and downright desperation don’t lend to the palatable female archetype, and “I’m not in the mood to ignore it” is the true declaration of the track. At the threat of running mascara comes an aggressive desire to unravel, to embody the mess we’ve automated to conceal in order to maintain the status quo. James the Seventh feels her body begging to release and demands she be allowed to do so, no matter who it disturbs.
A name garnering more and more attention, James the Seventh has hit over a million streams in her first year of releasing music, which is impressive for virtually any artist, but most especially one who was originally in pursuit of a career in ballet. If it wasn’t for an injury and subsequently gifted guitar, she’d be dazzling us through other mediums, but luckily, we get to swim in her inner world through her hypnotic voice and pain-stricken lyrics.
An addictive song moving at hyper-speed, “Just Let Me Cry” is hopefully indicative of a full-length project in the works, holding us off as she crafts her true introduction to the world. Though with honorable numbers and a salivating fanbase, James the Seventh has certainly gotten a headstart.
Listen to "Just Let Me Cry" below:
