Doja Cat has never fit the mould of a typical pop princess, always unapologetically steering her own course. It’s refreshing, but whilst going against the norm is somewhat her forte, her latest album still manages to shock.Her fifth studio album signals a bold new era from the first track. She provides a rap verse layered over jazzy, Earth, Wind, and Fire-inspired production. She’s embracing authenticity whilst fearlessly experimenting. The result is pure joy; you can picture her grinning and dancing around in the studio. True to its title, ‘Vie’, French for ‘life’, feels like an attempt at understanding and enjoying life.
Lead single, ‘Jealous Type’ whilst channelling a pop twinge, holds elements of the new sound that Doja is chasing. It contains 70’s disco-inspired production, similar to past singles of hers like ‘Kiss Me More’, but the vocal delivery in the chorus and the synths add a Pharrell Williams vibe to the track.
There are interesting samples used that reflect the new journey she’s on, especially in the third track ‘AAAHH MEN!’- sampling the theme song from the 1982 TV series Knight Rider. The sample provides a sinister feel, but interestingly, it’s the vocal delivery that catches you off guard: she chops and changes between soft and angry delivery in the verses. Doja Cat experiments on this track like no other on the album, seeing how far she can push vocals to add the right feel.
The album’s second single, ‘Gorgeous’, provides a feel-good track for the girls. The production mirrors this and follows an R&B style, immediately reminiscent of artists like Brent Faiyaz, particularly his single ‘Dreams, Fairytales, Fantasies’, with ASAP Ferg. In the second verse, her rap flow is reminiscent of Ferg’s. The song has the perfect blend of producers: Jack Antonoff and George Daniel of The 1975. Antonoff provides a feel similar to Sabrina Carpenter's track ‘Bed Chem’, with an R&B swag and smooth, honeymoon synths. Antonoff is known for utilising unique synths to tell a story and provide a specific feel to a song, which is done remarkably well on ‘Gorgeous.’
George Daniel has worked on tracks like ‘Apple’ from the highly successful Charli XCX project, ‘BRAT, which discusses the complexities of being a woman. It does not come as a surprise, then, that he finds himself producing ‘Gorgeous’, which, on the surface, seems to be teeming with confidence, but actually is laced with frustration at beauty standards. It tackles the bittersweet and toxic relationships women have with beauty.
Many tracks on the project follow this R&B-rap style, like ‘Happy’ and ‘Make it Up.’ It’s clear Doja Cat enjoyed her time in the studio; it radiates from the music. It seems she’s found a suitable outlet with this album, one that fuels the musical growth that she seems to be chasing. More often than not, she takes on a sweet approach to vocals, seemingly providing a vulnerable look into romantic relationships.
Tracks like ‘Acts of Service’ address Doja’s confusion with a relationship, trying to understand whether it is the real thing, and questioning whether she should let her guard down: “Please, this is an achievement, I’m out here geekin’ because I like you.” These lyrics are vulnerable, as though she’s conversing with her partner and explaining how new this feeling is to her.
It’s a universal feeling that most people have likely felt in a relationship, allowing her experience to act as a soundboard for many young women to feel seen and reflect on their own behaviour in relationships.
The thing about ‘Vie’ is that it showcases the many peaks and troughs of the human experience. It goes from songs like ‘Couples Therapy’, which explores a relationship that seems to be falling apart, to ‘Take Me Dancing’, a confident collaboration with SZA (‘Kiss Me More’ collaborator) which sees the pair take control and stand firm on their worth.
This album has it all and tells a female story worth sharing. Doja Cat makes it clear that you can be both confident and heartbroken all in the same breath. It’s the complexity of life, and between black and white, there are different shades. This album has a lot of colour and shade, and Doja tackles it all with grace and glee.
Jessica Sansoa
Image: ‘Vie’ Official Album Cover
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