While the concept of musicians living a double life is something only seen in movies or beloved TV shows, Brooklyn-based popstar rlyblonde (aka Carina Allen) has made this idea come to life. In fact, it’s her entire brand.
After making a name for herself as a creative director for New York City’s favorite rising stars, Allen decided a couple years ago she wanted to get out from behind the camera and start standing in front of it. In 2023, under the moniker of rlyblonde, she released her debut EP Fantasy, in which the Brooklyn songstress wove together five tracks that conveyed a dream life that she yearned for.
On December 13, rlyblonde released her sophomore EP Star of the Show. While her debut EP portrayed rlyblonde manifesting her ultimate fantasy, Star of the Show now finds the alt-rock singer-songwriter finally living it.
Finally following your dreams and facing the beauty of fame comes with many emotions, and rlyblonde now finds herself with the maturity to convey how she reflects on her newfound fortune. Star of the Show is a record that sparkles in the light of its sonic radiance, and in it we find rlyblonde in a new chapter of her story: one where she is more vulnerable, yet more honest. As listeners get to explore more of rlyblonde’s signature flirty playfulness, we also find a new side of her, one that is more fearful and honest.
While still maintaining the signature alt-rock-infused pop energy of Fantasy, Star of the Show conveys a more matured musicality from rlyblonde – one that we first got to explore on her non-album double singles “Your Angel” and “Girl in Your Story.” We find more grit and spunk from rlyblonde, a more raw sound she has learned to harness with the assistance of this record’s producer Robert Guariglia, known for his work with The Veronicas, Oh Honey and Native Sun. Guariglia’s production on Star of the Show cannot be praised enough, as he has helped rlyblonde to further innovate her musicality.
The album opens with the title track, an incredibly confident number spoken through the voice of a starlet at the height of her success. In this song, rlyblonde is self-aware and reflecting on the current double life she leads. Although now known in local and national music scenes for her musical career, rlyblonde is also renowned for her other business ventures. While working as a wedding photographer by day, she also is the owner of her own production company, Hot Creative. “Star of the Show” finds rlyblonde reflecting on this Hannah Montana-esque lifestyle, where she’s a photographer, videographer, and creative director by day and rockstar by night.
The album overall contemplates the question of what defines success, or what true happiness in life really looks like. For rlyblonde, she isn’t just the star of her own show, but others as well. This song may be interpreted as the singer being the star in a relationship or may be a commentary on the role she plays in the lives of other New York creatives.
“Star of the Show” is followed by “Dumb Blonde,” the album’s first single to be released. Bringing huge Elle Woods energy, “Dumb Blonde” is the song that would play in your favorite Y2K teen movie (think Uptown Girls or Legally Blonde). While “Star of the Show” shows rlyblonde as a famous star, “Dumb Blonde” serves as a more honest reflection.
Within this track, the singer-songwriter is honest as she contemplates how she managed to achieve such fame in the first place. Constantly haunted by the thought that none of this is going to last forever, the song does maintain a carefree, devil-may-care vibe. You can’t control which road your life may go down, so it’s best to just always enjoy the ride.
Known for her commentary on femininity and love within her artistry, Star of the Show maintains an underlying theme of relationships. “Karaoke,” the album’s second single, tells a story about queer awakenings and that first queer relationship you may have. It isn’t always perfect, and “Karaoke” is a brutally honest track that explores the toxic or messy behaviors we may exhibit when we’re first exploring new queer relationships. However, this might also be interpreted as how we may behave when we first find fame and fortune. Within the lyrics, rlyblonde admits she can be selfish and lives for the drama. Yet, similar to an imperfect Carrie Bradshaw, we can’t help but love her anyway.
Guariglia’s production influences can be seen throughout the record, as little tidbits of buzzy, electric guitars and more eclectic compositions are seen consistently. “Star of the Show” features hints of distorted solos, and later on the song “Icon Baby” opens up with heavy electric guitar fuzz.
“Icon Baby,” perhaps the album’s highlight track, is as soft as rose petals and as cutting as the flower’s thorns. Conveyed through an edgier yet more melancholy composition, “Icon Baby” carries with it the same self-reflection as “Dumb Blonde,” but with a more somber tone. Rlyblonde sings about everything she has done to become a star and adamantly declares that this is what she has always wanted to be. A definitive number almost reminiscent of the grungy “Your Angel” released the year prior, “Icon Baby” captures everything there is to love about rlyblonde’s artistry, shining the starlet in her most brilliant light.
The album closes with “Hollywood,” the third single to be released. Cinematic in storytelling, “Hollywood” is the hopeful note that Star of the Show ends on. Carrying with it heavy indie rock influences, “Hollywood” perfectly rounds out the record. Beginning with a confident voice, Star of the Show moves from bold to vulnerable to hopeful, establishing the project as a diverse body of work while maintaining that steady, flirtatious tone that rlyblonde is known for.
In this song rlyblonde voices that, no matter what happens, she will always be under the spell of fame (or “Hollywood”). She is ultimately in love with her life, as it is the one she has always wanted. Furthermore, this is her admitting that, while she’s in love with “Hollywood,” and she’ll do whatever it takes to keep living her dream, she knows that there may be a darker underbelly to fame. However, the darker side to her may be interpreted more as missing home or missing a loved one, not so much the obstacles found within the music industry. As always, love is a central theme within the universe of rlyblonde.
When it comes to independent music, no other artist embraces camp, artistic expression, and world-building quite like rlyblonde. With each album serving as a chapter within her life, listeners can see a bold and playful character come to life. Similar to feminist icons like Elle Woods herself, rlyblonde is the ultimate representation of what happens when we embrace becoming the main character of our story.
Stream Star of the Show, the new EP from rlyblonde, on Spotify and Apple Music.
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