Alisa Xayalith starts a fresh new era with her debut album, ‘Slow Crush’

Recommended Tracks: “What The Hell Do We Do Now?,” “Boys & Guitars,” “Chaotic”
Artists You Might Like: Clairo, Housewife, Anna Shoemaker

When you think about relationships, there are the obvious labels of “good” and “bad.” You might look at a couple and think, Oh, their relationship is pretty good, for instance, or you could blatantly see that things are a disaster. But of course, relationships cannot be classified as one or the other. What about those moments in between, the ones that make you wonder if the relationship lives up to the one you always dreamed about, or the ones that have you looking at an ex differently? These are the moments that really define a relationship, and they are the ones that Alisa Xayalith (of former band The Naked And Famous) shares on her debut album, Slow Crush.

The album begins with the mild-mannered “Alone With You,” which establishes the various themes that we later hear on the project. There is a loneliness that shines through, as the acoustic guitar and heavy downbeats usher Alisa through her intrusive thoughts. As Alisa finds herself in New Zealand while her partner is in Los Angeles, she can’t help but think about what he is up to, and if the distance between them means something more. Softly, she sings, “Do I ever cross your mind / When you’re working late at night / I just wanna know that you want me / Tired of the back and forth / Swear to God it hurts me more.”

We then get more of these unsure thoughts on tracks like “What The Hell Do We Do Now?” Here, Alisa captures the awkward state of not knowing how to proceed in a relationship after something detrimental has occurred. The forward momentum tries to bring us closer to answers as she sings, “Broke your heart, I didn’t mean it / Wish it didn’t drag us so far down / What the hell do we do now?” She also asks, “I need to know if you still want me or do you regret me?” admitting that this can either be worked through or viewed as the catalyst for a break. If they work through the problem, then they might reach a point where all is coming up “Roses.” A soothing indie pop track, “Roses” makes peace with the past. Its dreamy production and pop-soaked guitar melodies establish an easy-going vibe, mirroring how Alisa feels going forward in a relationship. She shares, “After all that we’ve been through / I still wanna take a walk with you into the garden / We can watch it grow for all of our tomorrows / Til everything’s coming up roses.”

It makes sense to take each day one step at a time, a sentiment that also comes through on “Boys & Guitars.” With this track, Alisa pairs fantasy with reality. She reminisces on her youth, which was decorated with her hopeless crushes on guitar players in her favorite bands. Her daydreams take ahold of her common sense as she sings, “I knew nothing about love / I was fanatical making it up / Careful what you wish for / It’s not make-believe like before.” A more serious approach happens on “Ordinary Love,” which follows. On “Ordinary Love,” Alisa realizes that she has finally found the person she has been looking for. She becomes vulnerable as she sings, “But you’re the only one who turned my heart inside out / Yeah, you’re the only one who gets me high when I’m down” and “Heavy clouds used to follow me around / Then you turned up and showed me the sky.” This game-changer goes against all she thought she knew, but in a good way. It is clear that this “is no ordinary love,” that this is something very special.

Even when the vibes seem so clear-cut, there will be times when doubts can encroach and change your perspective. On “Different Light,” Alisa feels conflicted about an ex. Her wistful vocals and forlorn lyrics indicate that she has made a mistake, especially when she sings, “Thought I built a wall that no one could break through / But it hit me / Saw you with some girl / So who is she?” She then continues, “All it took was you looking in her eyes / To see you in a different light.” The roles then flip on “Chaotic,” where Alisa can’t even entertain the idea of someone breaking it off with her. Lyrically, the song is heavy and full of fear, but sonically, listeners are treated to light melodies and playful beats. We feel as if this is an easy-breezy song, nothing to worry about, which feeds into the concept of the track. As Alisa sings, “If you ever, ever, ever stop loving me / I think that I would die inside,” we know that she is joking, but what if she’s not?

It all culminates to “Romance Is Dead,” which closes the album. There are so many ways to experience love and pursue relationships. It can make you crazy, it can make you sane… In the end, we all don’t really know what to make of it, which comes through when Alisa sings, “Did you mean what you said? / Is it all in my head? / I’ll be a fool for love / ‘Cause that’s all I wanted.” Maybe this was all a slow crush, leaving her with some serious thinking and re-evaluating to do.

Overall, Slow Crush is a striking debut album from Alisa Xayalith. From the vulnerable storytelling and fresh lyrical perspectives to the dynamic variety of the music, the album leaves us with a strong impression of who Alisa is outside of a band setting. Fans of The Naked and Famous will find that this is the beginning of a whole new era for Alisa, as she is presenting herself in a way that is different from what they previously know. Her voice—not only musically, but fundamentally—is growing and evolving, and Slow Crush confirms that she has tapped into something beautiful.