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Photo: John Chong

Almondmilkhunni's debut album Enjoy the Ride is FINALLY here, and wow, what a ride. The 11-track album is the compilation of Almondmilkhunni's, née Brandy Schwechler, musical evolution from a Philadelphia-born choir singer turned barista, where she gained her namesake, to a certified rising pop star, navigating her love life with confidence and zeal. 

The debut effort starts with "intro," a collage of warped vocals and kaleidoscopic soundscapes that usher the listener down the rabbit hole into the world the artist has so carefully constructed. She tells the listener about her dream the night before and reflects on who she is and where she is in life as the soundscapes seamlessly shift into the record's first official track, "fake deep." The track opens with Almondmilkhunni's iridescent vocals layered over catchy guitar strums and spacey synths to create a futuristic sound with a splash of early aughts nostalgia. She serves the source of her disdain with a shot of honesty, singing to them, "Swear that you're so sensitive / But really you're just another narcissist / I'm already bored of calling you out / And hating the sound / Of hearing you go there and letting you down / Swear that you're so delicate." As the track builds, she continues to read her target, declaring that without all their bullshit, they'd be nothing and would probably die first before telling the truth. The song launches into a beautifully biting chorus that further calls out people who are "fake deep" and blatantly asks the question, "don't you wanna be real for once in your life?"

Enjoy the Ride then traverses through four previously released singles: the twinkling electropop jam "liar," the lovesick anthem "MISS U," the haunting, Bonnie and Clyde-infused "BODYBAG," and the hyperpop influenced "ANXIETY." Teaming up with the effervescent Kailee Morgue, she looks for stability as dance-inducing beats and swirling sonics envelop her. "Can someone tell me that I'm not crazy? / My heart and head don't get along lately," she asks, expressing her growing uneasiness. In the second verse, Morgue accompanies Almondmilkhunni on this introspective journey, admitting that she, too, sometimes believes her intrusive thoughts and is a victim of self-sabotage. Her dreamy vocals seamlessly fit into the nostalgic yet addictively tumultuous soundscapes Almondmilkhunni created, adding comfort to her relatable lyricism.

"PISTOL" is a firecracker of a track with fast-paced beats and synths filling the air. The intoxicating opening hook, "Past life, deja vu / Present, future, here with you / Make the call, see it through," leads into a world full of seduction and silky vocals that instruct a lover to hold her closer and "do exactly what I told ya." "interlude" expands on the sonics and vocal ad-libs introduced in "PISTOL," adding a myriad of trippy effects that scratch the brain every so satisfyingly before transporting listeners to the retro-futuristic "IF I DIE" and the sugar-coated "COMA."

The ride begins to come to an end as she begins to open up to new love on the finale "playlist." Almondmilkhunni pleads to her lover to be patient as she processes her emotions. She believes she can change her mind and trust them, even after becoming "used to rooms full of liars / Who know how to hide in plain sight." As hopeful and bright instrumentals take the lead, she reveals that she made and craves a playlist full of songs that she hated but listens to now all the time because it reminds her of her new love. She gushes over how they take her breath away and treat her with kindness as fluttering percussion overwhelms the space. Choral vocal layers add to the overall hopefulness of the track, making this final track a joyous, euphoric end to an album full of emotional ups and downs.

Listen to Enjoy the Ride below: