Dear Happy Album Review

Released: 17th January 2020

Published by: Never Fade Records

With a full-blown record label and a massive following under her belt, UK artist Gabrielle Aplin has continued to make a significant impact on the music scene. As her first major release in four years, Dear Happy feels especially personal; highlighting how far the singer has come since her mainstream debut in 2013.

This third album is one about life, society and mental health, with each of the fourteen tracks representing a different state of mind or scenario, their brevity and thematic undertones are all excellent; with an increased use of background instruments and a high focus on electro-pop, there’s a zany, almost dreamlike feel to the music this time. It bursts from the speakers with a unique and visually pleasing palette, creating a firm contrast with Gabrielle’s previous, more saturated effort: “Light Up the Dark”. Yet the increased presence of this component never overshadows Aplin’s voice, which she stretches to more powerful highs, especially with tracks like “Invisible”. Even with all these new directions, Gabrielle continues to incorporate the more soothing compositions that defined her debut; “My Mistake” is powerful and emotive, enveloping the listener in a heartfelt portrayal of self￾esteem.

It’s a near perfect balance of old and new, but Aplin has also fuelled this latest album with some of her wider, more collaborative endeavours. “Losing Me”, a relaxing serenade featuring fellow UK singer JP Cooper, could well be the best track on the album, their delicate voices blending together flawlessly. Variety is by far the strongest strength of Dear Happy and within each track, we can see Aplin’s take on various facets of modern life. “Like you say you do” for example, links to the way we present ourselves on both social media and the real world. Other tracks are more experimental, most notably “Kintsugi”, which reinvents the traditionally straightforward rhythms of past releases while also serving a metaphor for fixing up one’s mental wellbeing. All of them are engaging and well-produced.

The vibrant, colourful and heartfelt Dear Happy is Gabrielle Aplin’s best offering yet; it’s a superb collection that both plays to her strengths and expands her vocal range. Add to that a brilliant collaboration with JP Cooper and you have a very ambitious and confident album that will deliver for just about any fan of modern music.

Rating: A