Review: "Sleep off the Sadness" - Riese
- Azalea Withrow
- 21 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Coming to terms with feeling as the only route to healing, "Sleep off the Sadness" is written about allowing oneself to deeply experience unpleasant emotions that are often avoided as a means of self-protection. Riese writes from the heart, finding inspiration to face fears head-on through her experience undergoing cancer treatment at just twenty-two. On the vulnerable track, her voice asks listeners, Have you ever felt that feeling in your chest? Like you don't ever really wanna feel again? The chorus reminds gently that, Baby you can't sleep off the sadness... Gotta feel it to fix it, smoke it to quit it. About the inspiration for her project, Riese shares it's about, "not wanting to be defined by the hard things we go through, but I’ve learned how powerful it is to share those experiences and find connection through them."
A lyrically and melodically positive track, the upbeat guitar and accompanying keys provide a soft-pop base for Riese's sweet vocals. "Sleep off the Sadness" keeps it simple in the best way, allowing listeners to absorb every important lyric. Switching from head to chest voice throughout the song, Riese displays a gentle power over her airy vocal tracks. Featuring catchy pop hooks and stacked vocals, the artist doesn't sacrifice intention for quality of sound. This track off Riese's debut EP sounds like an encouraging letter from a friend and operates that way for listeners. It is a warm embrace after a tough reminder that you can't sleep off the sadness.
Raising $7,000 in just 24 hours, Riese debuted her five-track EP 9th Life through the support of her community, who helped her fund the self-made project. The singer/songwriter performed an album release show on November 21st at Nublu in New York, just after her headlining performance at the iconic Baby's All Right venue in Brooklyn. The self-written songs on 9th Life explore themes of grief, feeling like you’re falling behind, and wanting to make the most of every moment. She cites artists like Taylor Swift, Griff, and Julia Michaels as inspiration for her songs. Writing songs since she was seventeen as a therapeutic practice, Riese is currently making music based out of New York City.
Written By Azalea Withrow
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