Suki Waterhouse solidifies herself as a rock and roll princess in ‘Memoir of a Sparklemuffin’
Photo by Jeremy Sosa
After a steady rise to rock and roll stardom, English singer-songwriter, model, and actress Suki Waterhouse has effortlessly translated her fiery spirit into a collection of 18 songs. From a night out with your friends straight to intimate moments with a lover, they take you on a seemingly never-ending dance party. She delicately spins a shimmering web of dream-like tracks with intoxicating vocals and grungy instrumentals reminiscent of iconic 90s and early 2000s artists such as Mazzy Star and Fiona Apple.
At this point, you might be wondering what exactly a Sparklemuffin is. Sparklemuffin is the clever name for one of three recently discovered Peacock spiders in Eastern Australia. Not only are they colorful arachnids, but they are also known to perform a kind of dance as a mating ritual. Waterhouse explains in various interviews leading up to her sophomore album’s release that she wanted the title to elicit the feelings she had while making the album—joy, bliss, and excitement for a flourishing romance. No title could be more fitting for an album that sees Waterhouse explore euphoric feelings while falling in love. Fans will recognize some of her greatest hits, such as “My Fun” and “To Love,” as they fall down a rabbit hole and escape into a bright and dreamy wonderland full of upbeat rock and roll instrumentals and sincere lyrics.
Waterhouse explores her classic rock and roll sound with strong drum and guitar instrumentals throughout the album. For example, “Gateway Drug” features an explosive drum sequence that starkly contrasts her delicate vocals, and “Blackout Drunk” combines rock and roll with pop elements, making for a deliciously chaotic and catchy revenge anthem. Similarly, “Supersad” features upbeat drums, but Waterhouse also experiments with vocal distortion and a grunge sound, making for a spicy and joyful track worthy of dancing to at the club with your friends. Reminiscent of instrumentals from the 80s and 90s, “Supersad” is anything but what the title suggests. Instead, it is a jubilant celebration of understanding that everything will be okay, expressed through catchy and hopeful lyrics and exciting instrumentals: “Could be the worst time I ever had/Lose my mind, always get it back/There’s no point in being super sad.” As Waterhouse sings of getting over hardships and finally finding joy in her life again, the song encourages you to do the same and view the world with a little more optimism.
While Waterhouse has found her rock and roll persona through more upbeat tracks, her more relaxed songs give her the chance to flex her vocal range and songwriting abilities. “Faded” features raw vocals accompanied by stripped-down instrumentals that give the track a distinctly folksy quality. The soothing string instrumentals throughout the chorus provide a fun diversion from the remainder of the album, with rich vocals that keep the song grounded and cohesive. “Think Twice” is another highlight, as the smoky instrumentals and vocals give the song a mystical and enchanting quality that is inescapable.
Through strong lyrical work, Waterhouse explores her feelings towards stardom and how she balances an exciting and ever-growing career with her personal life. “Model, Actress, Whatever” and “Could’ve Been A Star” are sister songs in the sense that “Could’ve Been A Star” answers many of the questions posed in “Model, Actress, Whatever.” On the latter, Waterhouse sounds dreamy and melancholic as she reflects on how the music industry has changed her: “Careful what you ask, love for the ages/When it's good all on the outside, part of the faking/You can't write the ending, it's Hollywood pages/You tell them your story, and they'll make the changes.” She questions if her dreams are worth chasing and if she can live in both the industry and her own life. “Could’ve Been A Star” then reflects on the effects that her career has had on her personal life: “I wish that nothing was buried under the surface, then maybe I could probably love you/Can see our problems, still fond of our youth/You came at my star, and I'd be rude to you/I swear I didn't mean to break all hell loose.”
While Waterhouse takes time to reflect on her career and inner struggles, the album is largely a celebration of finding true love, and that can overcome anything. This theme is reflected in the beautiful lyrics and storytelling throughout the entire project. On “Nonchalant,” Suki Waterhouse is anything but what the title suggests as she sings of wanting to be with someone so badly while at the same time feeling scared to open up: “Sometimes I'm so damn nonchalant/That I can't get to what I want/That quintessential cool girl in a bar/Sometimes I wanna taste your skin.” “Legendary” is an incredibly sweet and heartfelt track as Waterhouse sings of finding someone who loves her for who she is while simultaneously bringing out the best in her: “I crossed the seas into the oceans/And my shipwrecked into you/Now I see the world through red emotions/How’d you take away the color blue?” Similarly, she expresses vulnerability in “To Get You” as she admits that she would go through heartbreak one hundred times over to experience the love she has now: "What I’d do all over again/To get you, to know you/Lost every little thing/To watch you, to want you/Lost every little thing/To hold you/I had to give just about everything/To get you.”
Memoir of a Sparklemuffin concludes with “To Love,” a fan-favorite track originally released in early 2023, which perfectly captures the optimistic essence of the album. Waterhouse sings passionately about finding true love as powerful drum and guitar instrumentals close out the album with a bang! Make sure to check out the new record below and catch our Sparklemuffin on her headlining tour this winter!
