Album Review: "Big Disgrace" - Haute & Freddy
- Ashley Adams
- Mar 19
- 6 min read
Photography & Direction: Silken Weinberg
Art Direction & Production Design: Danielle Kaufman
Two influential forces in the music industry have musically united in preparation for their debut album Big Disgrace, a contemporary lens into the theatrics and oddities of traveling carnivals and modern day society.
T R A C K L I S T
Symphony For A Queen
Anti-Superstar
Sweet Surrender
Scantily Clad
Freaks
Shy Girl
Dance The Pain Away
Femme Hysteria
Fashion Over Function
Sophie
Showgirl At Heart
Fields of Versailles
I Like My People Weird
The virtuoso couple consisting of Michelle Buzz and Lance Shipp have portrayed their music talents and skills by writing iconic hits for the biggest pop stars to making their own music and creating a distinct atmosphere in the music space. Upon forming Haute & Freddy (Buzz is "Haute" and Shipp is "Freddy") together, they released leading singles for Big Disgrace and began worldbuilding and shaping the campy carnival aesthetics for their first project, including being a part of Runaway Carnie Co LLC and working on immersive music videos. Once you click play on Big Disgrace, you will be transported to a baroque period of time with the modern musical influences of synths and pop symbolism.
Symphony For A Queen
To create this unique time-bending record, the renaissance-esque themes are not only presented in the visuals but in the production, lyrics, and vocals as well. Through clever metaphors, Haute sings about wanting to become a star and garner an audience, which can be compared to wanting to join the carnival and perform for the crowd. Symbolizing the craziness and vulnerability of an event like this showcases Haute & Freddy's amazing songwriting skills even further. "Symphony For A Queen" can be categorized as baroque pop, although its distinct melodies and one-of-a-kind sound create a brand new, never heard before musical genre.
Anti-Superstar
Representative of the topics and concept of Big Disgrace, they are summarized in the album's second track, in which Buzz calls herself the title of the song because of the pop music she's putting out with a past-century twist. Another reason is that she makes music for the love of the arts and creating, rather than for fame and attention. Throughout infectious basslines and accompanying synths, Haute shows how she is a chameleon when it comes to singing, quickly changing octaves and vocal styles to invoke the vibes of "Anti-Superstar".
Sweet Surrender
Breaking up is freeing and a breathe of fresh air on the third track of the album, "Sweet Surrender", with Buzz singing over an upbeat production about her feelings regarding leaving a partner no longer suited for her. The relationship ended on a good note, but then again, it still had to end. In regards to the song's instrumentation, strums of an electric guitar are converted to sound like disco synths, alongside energetic drums and sparkly sound effects.
Scantily Clad
"Scantily Clad" is the "title non-title track" of the record, dripping in sarcasm from pretending to care about what others think. Modest people who want to silence those who are true to themselves don't deserve any attention, no matter how "powerful" they appear to be. This song keeps you on your feet and makes you want to dance the night away as more 80s synths and party vibes are sonically translated through fun production styles and instruments. This doesn't even dissipate with the reverberated piano break, before "Scantily Clad" transitions into its twin track.
Freaks
Showing off your authentic and genuine self is continued lyrically from the previous track to "Freaks". Called the word by the "monarchs" that enforce timidity, the "Freaks" take the insult and turn it into a compliment. Being an outcast is much more cool and fun than always trying to fit in. The empowering lyrics perfectly pair with the powerfulness of the production. The synths make it feel as though you are floating through space and time, but also like you're jumping from one planet to another and dancing on top of them, with all the stars shining down on you.
Shy Girl
"Shy Girl" is all about wanting to break out of your shell after being put down, disregarded, and misunderstood by everyone around you. When you feel so out of place, you can't help but wonder when you will be able to be who you truly are, and not have to worry about the opinions of others anymore. Listening to this song feels like watching a coming-of-age movie that came out in the 80s, which is exactly what the lyrics invoke, as a majority of toned-down synths and power pop instrumentation dominate the production of the track.
Dance The Pain Away
Everyone has different ways of coping with depression and hardships that put a damper on their spirits. The track "Dance The Pain Away" was aptly named as the answer to this universally shared trait that varies between all who carry it. One of these ways: dance. Blocking out all strife by dressing up and partying with your friends. The signature sound of cowbells and likewise sound effects make the song another musical period piece and hit. Despite the lyrical content, time-accurate - but also modern summery synths - are what drive the seventh track's production.
Femme Hysteria
A "Femme Hysteria" is an allusive reference to the Salem witch trials of the late 1600s, where men believed women were witches for the smallest and sexist reasons, leading to their imprisonments and the hanging of nineteen people. The lyrics of this track deal with the misogyny prevalent throughout society by incorporating significant events in history that were influenced by it. The rapid instrumentation and production of this track summon the atmosphere of a nightclub, packed with everyone on the dance floor being bedazzled by glowing multicolored lights and fog machines.
Fashion Over Function
The term "fashion vs. function" weighs the difference between aesthetics and likability and significance and practicality. Haute & Freddy pick the side of fashion in this argument in regards to harmful advancements in modern technology. They are okay with sacrificing the functionalism of the internet and AI if it means getting rid of its overwhelming impact on the world. An aggressive, wavering bass synth and a "boots and cats" drum pattern come together to amplify hauntingly beautiful and intergalactic foreground synths and harmonious vocals.
Sophie
"Sophie" is the subject of a tragic love story, a sad memory as the relationship never came to be. Despite having an intense crush, this was unrequited with Sophie already going through her own conflicts regarding romance and her current then ex-partner. The wrong timing is what causes paths to never be crossed with her. Although Freddy is pictured playing a lute in the song's music video, which is also the shoot where the album artwork was taken, the layered strums of acoustic guitars permeate throughout and fill the soundscape of "Sophie", creating autumn-esque tones.
Showgirl At Heart
The plot of "Symphony For A Queen" returns for the eleventh track of Big Disgrace. No matter what, Haute believes she deserves to be on stage, knowing its where she belongs and feels most like herself. "Showgirl At Heart" is a gorgeous ballad, defined by its keyboard notes and slow-tempo synths, as well as the electric bass chords that emphasize them. The drums transform the song into even more of an incredible pop song than it already is. Distant electric guitar chords add an extra element to the track and displays it as both distinct and reminiscent of the 80s.
Fields of Versailles
This bittersweet and penultimate "Fields of Versailles" is about wanting to escape the current world we live in, ran by billionaires while everyone else has to constantly work hard just to survive. The love from the relationship Haute is in helps her forget about all of this. The synths of this track reminded me of a video game or a coding program, as if Haute & Freddy are hacking into the mainframe of society to defeat the evil people that run it. Another fun element is the usage of deescalating melodies as we continue to hear Haute's extraordinary singing throughout Big Disgrace.
I Like My People Weird
The conclusive song of Big Disgrace mirrors "Freaks" and "Scantily Clad" as the lyrics remark on the tedious ideals revolving around being perfect and fitting into a mold, and how being yourself and doing what you want is far better, even if you're outcasted because of this. "I Like My People Weird" can be described as a celestial ballad, using reverberated synths that give off the vibes of solar systems and galaxies, and the beauty you find in them when looking through a telescope. Instead of a telescope, we hear the beauty of this song and the rest of the album through speakers.
Big Disgrace is such a creative body of musical work in many different ways. As Haute & Freddy implement their expert songwriting skills in each track that emphasize the record's concept, the pairing of the upbeat, synth-filled production makes the album fun to listen and dance to. Both sides of the coin are explored with important themes regarding society and nightclub vibes, all the while maintaining the album's baroque carnival aesthetic. This is a fantastic debut project and I'm looking forward to the musical duo's upcoming Big Disgrace Tour with shows throughout North America and Europe!
Written By Ashley Adams
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