FRQ NCY‘s long-awaited album Reflections unveils just as spring blooms into fruition. This season of renewal and introspection provides the perfect atmosphere for this album. Reflections is meant to teach you. Even at times when your body isn’t moving, your mind surely will be dancing around supercuts.

My Reflections

Throughout my life, I’ve experienced numerous instances of what I can describe as “signs from the universe.” Parallels and coincidences often serve as indicators of repressed emotions and decisions. Lately, I’ve found myself immersed in a deep state of reflection, as most people do these days. When FRQ NCY announced the upcoming release, I was immediately drawn in. Reflections was calling my name and I knew I had to write about it. I just hadn’t anticipated the impact it would have on me.

Reflections was sent to me on a day where my mental and physical health weren’t the best.

I gave it a listen in hopes of improving my mood but instead, it took me on this overstimulating, emotional rollercoaster. It was basically triggering everything I was trying to avoid. The uncertainty and frequent fleeting feelings were a lot to take in. Everything came crashing down when I stopped and looked at myself in the mirror. Not only did I just finish listening to Reflections whilst ruminating, but I was standing here looking at my reflection. It was my last straw and unfortunately, I ended up relapsing on a bad habit. In the middle of it all, I was met with my reflection again. I could have easily let pity take over and continued my actions but thankfully, I didn’t. At that moment, I didn’t see a pathetic, lost girl. I saw a beautiful woman who’s made it this far in the world. Growth isn’t linear and Reflections was a much-needed reality check.

Perseverance and Reflection

Upon my second listen of Reflections that day, I was met with revelation. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster again but in a different way. Though I still wasn’t in the best head space, it was still healing. I’ve listened to Reflections a total of five times in various moods. Every time, I’ve learned something different. That is where I believe the beauty of Reflections lies. Very rarely, do I come across EDM albums that make me… reflect like this one. FRQ NCY says so much with minimal lyricism. This is all without being too enigmatic because the messages throughout are quite clear. For an album that didn’t begin as one, FRQ NCY molded this flawlessly. Many instances catch the listener off guard. I find it hard for me to pin a subgenre on this; which is the icing on the cake. The cherry top though?

Unexpectedly, Reflections has me feeling emotions I get similar to Lorde‘s Melodrama. Melodrama is one of my most favorite albums so I find it quite coincidental how it parallels with Reflections. Melancholy, healing, and spurts of erraticism exist in both of these albums. FRQ NCY deserves his flowers and more. I never thought another album would affect me in similar ways to Melodrama, but I was wrong. I do see myself listening to Reflections for many years to come. The solace it brings to me is a warmth I find rewarding.

This review is not to convince you whether or not its’s the “next big banger.”

I feel like I would be doing both myself and the integrity of the project a disservice if I were to do that. Not all music is to be perceived and consumed the same way. Reflections yearns to be interpreted by the soul.

Reflections tells many stories. None are mine. None are yours. However, it holds a mirror to our faces asking about our own. It challenges us to break out of normalcy and see other perspectives.

“…Every time I thought about releasing it, it didn’t feel like it was the right time. Eventually, I said fuck it, there’s no right time, and I don’t need a fancy release. I just want people to listen. If only ten people listen and enjoy, so be it. Art deserves to be seen!”
– FRQ NCY