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Photo: Ray Macmahon

Oregon-based indie pop artist khai dreams has finally released their highly anticipated debut album, ABSOLUTE HEARTBREAK. As promised, it's an unhinged—in the best way possible—bedroom pop record full of dynamic sonics and poetic, reflective lyricism, taking listeners on a journey through the highs and lows of self-discovery.

The record opens with the previously released single "Bugs," a lofi pop song with punchy drums that combines subdued guitar plucks with an energized dance beat. It's an intricate electro-pop song effort that feels both satisfyingly comforting and energizing at the same time. Listeners are then transported to the emo bedroom pop world of "Rats." The song is upbeat with somber lyrics, but it's perhaps the purest iteration of that concept—the perfect blend of happy/sad. The melody earworms its way into the most empathetic parts of your brain as acoustic guitars and cut-short drum beats lighten the mood. However, the grim lyrics depict an uncomfortably relatable depressive episode and offer little relief. The song melts into a cognitively dissonant pop jam that promises to stay with you long after its short run time.

Inspired by country and folk, "Panic Attack" infuses khai dreams' intimate lyrics about the overwhelming feeling of a panic attack with soothing guitar plucks and upbeat strums. There's something distinctive about the act of writing about panic attacks while making it sound so calm and collected, or at least that's the case at first. As the single plays out, the production and lyrics slowly pick up the pace until listeners are launched into a chaotic chorus, detailing bad dreams, irrational fears, and intrusive thoughts, giving us a glimpse into what someone with anxiety might experience when their flooding thoughts capsize the mind.

In "May," khai dreams expresses that they wish they could be more carefree and independent. According to them, "May's got my time in her hands / And she loves everything / And she takes what she wants / And she never has a plan," and they're left wondering about their place in her heart. These ruminations lead into the next track, "Not Enough," where khai dreams examines that something about them is, as the title suggests, not enough while upbeat, pop-rock sonics weave in and out of the existential lyrics.

The following track, "No Company," is a pared-back number that oozes hurt. The acoustic guitar-led track sees khai dream singing heartbreaking refrains like, "Cause the last time / Felt like the last time that / I'll feel that way again," detailing the cyclical nature of mental health struggles. After traversing through the self-accepting world of "Overall," the nostalgic and summery emo bedroom stylings of "Flowers," and the passionate, digital, distorted sonics of "Heartbreaker," the record ends on a lowkey note with the acoustic "Good Advice." The song sounds like the kind of track that would play at the end of a coming-of-age movie, with khai dreams' dreamy, soothing vocals blending with the strums of their ukelele, giving listeners one last bittersweet and honest hit in the feels.

Overall, khai dreams' growth and evolution as a songwriter is evident across ten well-crafted tracks that touch the heart and the soul. ABSOLUTE HEARTBREAK is an intimate collection of work that showcases their thoughtful and expert songwriting ability while exploring heavy but relatable topics like self-identity, romantic and platonic relationships, and what it feels like when you hit rock bottom but reminding listeners that we don't have to stay there.

Listen to ABSOLUTE HEARTBREAK below: