Audrey Hobert’s debut album ‘Who’s the Clown?’ is a sweet treat worth devouring
While it might be August, and trees are already shedding their leaves, summer doesn’t come to a close until late September. So if you are still desperately searching for your soundtrack of the summer, fear not, Audrey Hobert has delivered a fiery collection of spunky and angsty anthems perfect for your next night out (or night in)!
“Wet Hair” Official Music Video
Hobert immediately found her audience when she dropped her first single, “Sue Me,” earlier in the summer. An instant classic, “Sue Me” resonated with people tired of the modern dating world by voicing everyone’s secret wish to be loved and desired in a society that values a carefree and indifferent attitude towards love: “Sue me, I wanna be wanted/Sue me, I wanna be wanted/Sue me, I wanna be, sue me, I wanna be/Sue me, I wanna be wanted.” Even if it means calling up our not-so-perfect ex, Hobert opened the doors for listeners to act on their feelings and live boldly, without the fear of being messy.
In an endless cycle of trends and social media, it is refreshing to find artists who live by their own rules and step outside of the box. Hobert marches to the beat of her own drum, and despite some haters, she embraces and takes advantage of her quirks. On her debut album, Hobert is unafraid and eager to be completely herself. She expands her feelings on modern relationships, her growing stardom, and her place as an artist in a whirlwind industry.
“I like to touch people” feels nostalgic and cheeky with intimate vocals, relaxed instrumentals, and lyrics plucked directly off the pages of her diary: “It's just so fun/I’m at a random party/Hand to her heart/Some girl I've never met completely loves me.” Right off the bat, Hobert opens up and invites listeners to lay their feelings on the line as she takes us on a journey through complicated relationships and impostor syndrome.
“Thirst Trap” Official Music Video Directed by Audrey Hobert
On “Wet Hair,” Hobert doesn’t want to act like she cares about meeting her ex for the first time, so she hides her feelings with wet hair and a casual attitude. However, what she fails to realize is that easygoing drum instrumentals fail to mask the nonchalant persona she tries to embody. Despite her best efforts, there’s still a lingering itch in Hobert’s brain that she can’t resist scratching. With “Thirst Trap,” Hobert debates whether she prefers the person she becomes when she lets her ex completely consume her thoughts and daily life, or if she wants to, or has the capacity to, return to who she once was.
Heavy drum instrumentals mirror her frustration and desire to move on until finally, Hobert is honest with herself on “Don’t go back to his ass” as she decides, once and for all, that her ex isn’t worth another second of her time: “Don't go back to his ass, that shit is a trap/It never lasts, so don't go back to his ass/Much better to laugh from just where you're sat/I know it's hard, I know he's pretty/But baby, don't go back to his ass.” Futuristic pop instrumentals on “Shooting Star” start to reveal her change of heart as she begins to move on.
While navigating around her complex feelings towards a past relationship, Hobert must dodge the persistent feeling that she doesn’t belong in the music industry. “Phoebe” tangles up all her anxiety and excitement as she questions why people like her: “I took a walk on the beach, 'cause the guy doesn't like me back/Even though I'm gonna be a star, guess I don't have it, guess I don't have it after all.” She fights off self-doubt, only to discover that she has always been a star and all she needs to do is be herself: “No, I'm good, thanks for asking/That’d be awesome, but no worries if not/Best believe I can hack it/Check it out, I made it this far/Had to dig deep inside me/‘TiI I found what I was looking for/It was right there inside me (Ah)/It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful (Beautiful).”
“Phoebe” is a reminder to everyone, just as much as it is a reminder for Hobert, that following our hearts and embracing who we are without reservations is the only answer to living life to the fullest.
Who’s the Clown? is a refreshing dose of individuality and creativity at a time when people are searching for meaning and passion in a black hole that is the digital age. Hobert inspires listeners to discover who they are, embrace their whims, and fight for their dreams no matter what.
