Alessia Caracciolo, better known as popstar Alessia Cara, released her newest album, “Love & Hyperbole” on Feb. 14.
Cara announced on X in August 2023 that she was creating her fourth studio album, an album that she had worked on since 2021.
You might recognize Cara’s name from songs like “Scars to Your Beautiful” or “Stay,” which she was featured on with record producer and DJ Zedd. These were pop anthems of the mid-to-late 2010’s.
Now 28 years old and three-and-a-half years out from her last album release, the Toronto, Canada, native has evolved her music style and sound.
“It’s just a little more wobbly, and I’m more nervous because it’s been a longer time in between,” Cara told People.com before the album’s release. “It feels like coming back for the first time in a weird way.”
Cara leans into R&B in the 14-song “Love & Hyperbole,” with touches of pop and alternative in some of the tracks. Her voice is strong and soulful as she sings of themes such as heartache, love, independence and trust. As the album title might imply to listeners, many of her songs are poetic, utilizing not only hyperboles, but rhymes and imagery. These literary elements convey her experiences and thoughts.
In 2024, Cara released two songs from the album as singles, “Dead Man” in July and “(Isn’t It) Obvious” in October. I really enjoy both of these songs, “Dead Man” particularly. I think they were great introductions into Cara’s new sound and the themes of the album.
“Dead Man” paints a picture of a one-sided relationship, and Cara losing hope in making the relationship work out. On the other hand, “(Isn’t It) Obvious” speaks on overcoming fears in a relationship.
One of my favorite lines in the song, “Fears are only false creations/ Just as vibrant as we paint them, we’re just fine/ So if it’s any consolation, you’re my favorite.” These lyrics help put words to feelings and situations I would find hard to describe otherwise.
Some other stand-out songs from this album include “Run Run,” “Garden Interlude” and “Slow Motion.” I like how these songs lean into R&B, her voice is smooth and sounds like it was made for this genre. Her way of words in these songs are relatable in my journey of trusting myself and learning how to trust when it comes to love.
Another aspect of this album that I find really interesting does not involve the music, but the album cover. Cara has a condition called synesthesia, where one of the five senses is activated from an experience, which in turn triggers an experience within another sense. In Cara’s case, she is able to see colors that correlate with sound, such as music. She sees color in her own music, which helped her create the black, grey and red album cover.
Her visual and musical creativity throughout this album inspires me. Although I love and appreciate her previous albums, one can see that Cara has learned a lot about herself and her music through this one.
This album can best be summarized by the phrase, “life is not a race, it’s a journey.” There are highs, lows and everything in-between, which Cara emphasizes in “Love & Hyperbole.”
No matter what stage you are at in life, I believe this album is meant for anyone. The message, the lyrics and the vocals of this album are creative and intricate. It is all of this, while showcasing Cara’s new era in her music career.
