Recommended Tracks: “Missing U,” “Signs,” “Favourite Liar”
Artists You Might Like: 3Quency, Kehlani, Ella Mai
“‘Crush’ is often used to describe an infatuation with someone, but it also means destruction and ruin,” explains rising British-Canadian-Nigerian R&B pop artist Essosa on her sophomore EP, Crush! “That juxtaposition really hit me last year. I wanted the project to live in that tension—everyone understands what a crush is, but the word carries both sides of that experience.” Whether you have been someone’s crush, had a crush on someone, have crushed your competition, or have been totally crushed by someone close to you, there is so much complexity that comes with the word. You can embrace it or you can run from it, but either way, a crush will consume you.
Essosa channels the intensity of this word throughout the EP, starting with the title track. Here, we are brought into a world of fantasy, complete with light pop vocals and a dreamy R&B production. We become familiar with how enchanting a crush can be, how it can take you to a place of fluffy clouds, pastel skies, and twinkling stars. All along, Essosa admits her true feelings, singing, “I think I’m ready to fall again / And I think that you should know / I think I’m ready to love again,” hoping to ignite a spark. It is a contrast to “Missing U,” which follows. On this more up-tempo track, Essosa pulls herself together after losing love. While we are treated to playful beats and rhythms, Essosa shares, “I wanna put my pride aside / But I can’t handle it tonight / Just ‘cause I said we’re through / Don’t mean I am missing you,” allowing herself to be in her feelings.
The songs in the middle of Crush! take on a flirty edge, living up to proper “crush” status. On “Signs,” Essosa sings with a bit of attitude and sensuality, ready to take what is hers. Backed by skittering beats and various percussion, she states, “You know that you’re mine / You always come right on time / I’m seeing the signs.” There’s also “Favourite Liar,” that has a teasing, “what are you gonna do about this” vibe. The track is spirited and fun, adorned with record scratches and hand claps that invite listeners in. Meanwhile, Essosa sings, “I know you been watching all along / (You know you’re my favorite liar) / Time to leave your ego at the door,” acknowledging her target.
The EP’s final two tracks remind us that crushes are powerful, even if they are for better or worse. For anyone who has just wanted to get closer to the one they love, “Touch bby” gives them permission. We are brought back into a dreamy, lush space on “Touch bby,” where temptation and desire are at their fullest. Essosa gives in here, dropping lines like, “We’re on borrowed time, now,” “Let’s just touch, baby,” and “You know what I want,” ready for action. But the highest of highs can come with the lowest of lows, bringing us to the closing track. On “He’s Not All That,” Essosa awakes from her rosy reveries to find that a crush can hit hard when it’s not reciprocated. Her vocals rise and fall throughout, as if mimicking the up-down ride of a crush. In the end, she concludes, “If he doesn’t want you back / If he just don’t understand,” then he’s not really the one, is he? The track serves as the ultimate solidarity anthem for those going through a break-up or tricky situationship, instilling fans with the strength they need to move forward.
All in all, Crush! takes the storytelling and visual components of Essosa’s music and elevates it into this expansive project. With the help of producers jkarri and WAVSDNTDIE, Essosa immerses fans in ballads, anthems, and lively pop realms and cater to the lyrical and musical content found in each. She also infuses these tracks with nostalgic ‘90s and early ‘00s elements, rounding out her smooth pop and R&B sound. The drama of a crush is present in its many forms on this EP, making Crush! a dynamic and entertaining work of art.
Crush! is out now via UnitedMasters. You can listen to it here.
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