4Favs: Issue I

Imogen Heap, Tyler, The Creator, Kiki Rockwell, & Haley Heynderickx

Music was good to me these past few weeks. I have a lot of thoughts, so I’m just going to dive right in. This is going to be a roundup of a few of the full albums I devoted my time recently. If you’ve also listened to these albums, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Speak for Yourself - Imogen Heap

I have many thoughts on Imogen Heap. I already knew who she was thanks to her mega-famous hit Hide and Seek. It’s damn near impossible to not know that song in some capacity. And I liked it a lot! But I never sought out more of her music. I did know of her innovation in production, like her famous gloves. I knew that Ariana Grande was a fan and had her own pair of gloves. I did not know until listening to this album in full that Goodnight and Go was a COVER!

Playing this album cover to cover was a spiritual experience. There isn’t a single skip. I won’t lie, I was pushed to finally take the plunge because the opening track Headlock is viral on TikTok right now. That is, without a doubt, my standout favorite from the album. I haven’t stopped playing it for weeks.

I think it’s easy to see why Imogen Heap is an iconic in the music industry. She really is your favorite artist’s favorite artist. The production pushes the limit of pop music, and she has a unique and enjoyable voice. She takes simple feelings and puts them into these heart-wrenching songs. There isn’t a clear negative anywhere.

That being said…

I dive into artists fully when I really enjoy something from them. So, I Googled Imogen and found out she just dropped another single. I listened to What Have You Done To Me? and similarly fell in love. But I just had to do further research. And that was how I discovered that Imogen has been feeding her voice to a Chat-GPT powered AI to create an archive of herself, so that she can continue creating music using this technology. She used part of this technology to craft the single.

She donates to climate protection organizations to counteract the environmental effects of AI, and she doesn’t upload anyone else’s information (unless they consent). If you use AI, this is about as dignified as you can go about it. Still, I find the use of it at all morally reprehensible. It hasn’t soured my enjoyment of Speak for Yourself, but it is on my mind every time I listen now. I don’t have many further thoughts beyond, “I am not a fan of that.” We’ll see how it unfolds, I guess.

Standout Tracks: Headlock, Have You Got It in You?, Hide and Seek

Tyler, The Creator - CHROMAKOPIA

This album was good. I don’t typically listen to Tyler albums cover to cover (a mistake, I see that now) but I wanted to do that here. All of the singles were promising, and the whole project did not disappoint. I am in love with the fullness of sound on these songs. It really feels like an immersive experience that we’re being taken through. I need to take more time to sit with the lyrics, but this was clearly a very vulnerable project (Hey Jane, Like Him, Noid), which I always appreciate.

As a dancer, I naturally lean toward imagery when listening to music. And buddy, this one is lush. When a song makes me want to move, to act out the patterns I see in my mind, that’s when it really sticks with me.

I always love his production. I always love his voice. I do feel that this is a step up from past projects like IGOR and Call Me If You Get Lost while staying consistent with the trajectory of his artistry. I kind of hope we get a deluxe version with a few more songs or remixes, but I’m content with what we have.

Standout Tracks: St. Chroma, Rah Tah Tah, Sticky, I Hope You Find Your Way Home

Kiki Rockwell - Eldest Daughter Of An Eldest Daughter

You guys have to get on Kiki Rockwell. I discovered her via a TikTok video where she talked about choreographing her own music video. I love multifaceted artistry, so I followed her. Her songs have this eerie, medieval-core feeling that are paired so well with her gorgeous voice. This is technically her second full-length album, but this one is much longer than her previous effort.

This project is classified as electronic on Apple Music, but that feels quite limiting. Kiki feels like a real genre-bending artist who doesn’t fit into just one category. She feels like she’s pushing the limits in pop, alternative, and electronic music. Her music tends to deal with patriarchy, womanhood, and the like. All of it set in these crystal clear otherworldly settings. She is a siren, she is a witch, she is a dragonrider. And she’s taking you with her.

Standout Tracks: Syrena, Strange Premonition, Seven Angels Greet Me In The Carpark

Haley Heynderickx - Seed of a Seed

I love me a good singer-songwriter. And boy, is Haley a good singer-songwriter. She has such a soft voice that holds such power. Her lyricism is so visual, able to tug on the heart while also soothing you. Her last album, I Need to Start a Garden, has been on constant repeat for me. It’s much shorter than this album, and she doesn’t have many singles outside of that. For a while, I feared we would never get music again. So, when singles started dropping, I was ecstatic.

This is going to sound simple, but her voice is just addictive. The music feels like something you can throw on repeat and not get tired of. This album in particular has this feeling of walking through a forest of very tall trees. It’s very grounded, and no song feels out of place. Often, all that’s needed is just her voice and a guitar.

Haley, like Kiki, feels like one of those smaller artists you want to share with everyone. I highly encourage you to listen to her. Start with I Need to Start a Garden so you can fully appreciate what she’s done on this album.

Standout Tracks: Gemini, Foxglove

Up Next:

• A deep dive into Nicole Dollanganger’s catalogue

• Revisiting an old favorite: Beast Epic by Iron & Wine

I hope you enjoyed this post! I would love to hear thoughts on these albums, especially if this post inspires you to check any of them out. I am also always open to music recommendations. Til’ the next one, y’all.