WILLOW
<COPINGMECHANISM> (Roc Nation)
WILLOW (Willow Smith) has come a long way musically since her Whip My Hair days, always seeming to follow her own rules from a young age. With hits like 2015 funk-pop track Wait A Minute!, 2019 indie-soul number Female Energy Part 2 and 2020’s Meet Me At Our Spot – released with Tyler Cole as The Anxiety – Willow has most recently adopted a punkier aesthetic in the last few years: following her mother Jada Pinkett-Smith in her Wicked Wisdom days, perhaps?
New album <COPINGMECHANISM> sits nicely within the rock genre but in a way that feels fresh, with powerful, emotive songwriting and vocals layered over thundering drums and quick guitar riffs, exposing a very vulnerable side to Willow. Hover Like A Goddess is a fierce standout, whereas Split is a nonchalant moment showcasing the true range and beauty of her voice – but a voice that certainly holds its own amongst all the rage.
words JOHN EVANS