Troubled Paradise is the debut studio album by American singer Slayyyter. It was released on June 11, 2021, by Fader Label. It received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised the updated production, lyricism and maturity in songwriting. Some critics deemed this album an improvement from her debut mixtape.[5][6][7]
| Troubled Paradise | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 11, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
| Genre | Hyperpop[1] | |||
| Length | 36:31 | |||
| Label | Fader Label | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Slayyyter chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Troubled Paradise | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Dork |  [2] |
| Pitchfork | 6.0/10[1] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[3] |
| Tom Hull – on the Web | B+ ( )[4] |
Background and development
editIn September 2019, after releasing a string of singles and having achieved a moderate success with tracks on TikTok, as well as ascending in social media as an emerging star in niches such as hyperpop and the Stan Twitter community, Slayyyter released her eponymous debut mixtape.[8] A month before its release, the artist answered some online questions regarding the mixtape. In response to a fan asking if rock would be present on the mixtape, she replied that she would be "saving this style for S2", presumably referring to her then-upcoming debut studio album. Later, Slayyyter did indeed work with the genre in some of the Troubled Paradise tracks.[9]
In September 2019, a few days before the release of Slayyyter, the singer was questioned on Twitter about a popular unreleased track among fans she had mentioned and played before, "Doghouse" (later, "Dog House"). The answer was "yes :} will be finished for s1 deluxe edition".[10] Months after that, she continued to tease fans with a taste of what was coming, having teased "Doghouse" almost in full while livestreaming on Instagram. Some other rumors also started spreading about what songs would be included in Slayyyter's next record. Known tracks at the time (late 2019 and early 2020) were "Talk to Me", "ID", "Dangerous", "Villain" and "Heaven". None of those tracks, with the exception of "Villain" and "Dog House", were added to the final tracklist of Troubled Paradise. It is also worth noting that since the release of her first demos on SoundCloud, around 2018, the release of her debut mixtape and Mini Tour in 2019, until the release of Troubled Paradise in 2021, Slayyyter gained enough popularity to obtain a loyal fanbase.[11]
The production of Troubled Paradise has its roots back in Slayyyter's Mini Tour (2019), when she teased fans saying the album would be "much better" than her debut mixtape and that they would love it.[12] In early 2020, the singer traveled to L.A. to work on the record. She ended up staying there, while many recording studios shuttered and halted music production. “A lot of people were, like ‘I can’t make songs right now ’cause I can’t get to the studio [...] And I was like, ‘[That] sucks. I’m fine. I know how to do it.’”, she says. Regarding the production of Troubled Paradise, she stated in interviews that its sound would be cleaner than her previous record, as she realized many fans were criticizing the mixing of Slayyyter. "It isn't bedroom pop", says the artist.[13]
Singles and promotion
editOn October 21, 2020, "Self Destruct" was released as the album's lead single, accompanied by the release of its music video hours later.[14] The music video was directed by Brent McKeever.[15]
"Throatzillaaa" was released as the first promotional single on November 13, 2020.[16] A lyric video was made available on November 9 before the official announcement on November 11. In December, the title track "Troubled Paradise" was registered on Slayyyter's ASCAP.[17] before being officially announced on January 19, 2021. "Troubled Paradise" and its music video, directed by Munachi Osegbu and produced by Collin Druz, were released on January 22. The song was leaked in full the day before, as well as the album's final tracklist, cover art and the "Troubled Paradise" music video.[18]
On January 21, 2021, one day before planned, Slayyyter announced the official album title as Troubled Paradise on social media, along with its official art cover and release date of June 11, 2021. The day after, the tracklist and pre-sale were made available.[7]
"Clouds" was released as the next single on February 26, 2021,[19] followed by "Cowboys" on April 9[20] and "Over This!" on May 7.[21]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Self Destruct" (featuring Wuki) | Wuki | 2:15 | |
| 2. | "Venom" |
| Robokid | 2:24 |
| 3. | "Throatzillaaa" |
| Gupi | 3:05 |
| 4. | "Dog House" |
| Robokid | 2:22 |
| 5. | "Butterflies..." |
| Robokid | 1:48 |
| 6. | "Troubled Paradise" |
|
| 4:01 |
| 7. | "Clouds" |
|
| 3:10 |
| 8. | "Cowboys" |
|
| 3:38 |
| 9. | "Serial Killer" |
| Pilotpriest | 3:57 |
| 10. | "Over This!" |
|
| 2:56 |
| 11. | "Villain" |
|
| 3:33 |
| 12. | "Letters" |
|
| 3:15 |
| Total length: | 36:31 | |||
Personnel
edit- John Greenham – mastering
- Wuki – mixing, recording (1)
- Rob Kinelski – mixing (2, 5–12)
- Ike Schultz – mixing (3, 4)
- Robokid – recording (2, 4–6)
- Gupi – recording (3)
- John Hill – recording (6)
- Jordan Palmer – recording (6)
- Schmarx – recording (7)
- Nicopop – recording (7)
- Dave Burris – recording (8)
- Micah Jasper – recording (8)
- Lauren D'Elia – recording (9)
- Pilotpriest – recording (9)
- Chris Greatti – recording (10, 11)
- Zakk Cervini – recording (10, 11)
- Kyle Shearer – recording (12)
- Nate Campany – recording (12)
References
edit- ^ a b Bardhan, Ashley (June 14, 2021). "Slayyyter: Troubled Paradise Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ^ Firth, Abigall (June 9, 2021). "Slayyyter – Troubled Paradise". Dork. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ Malone, Nick (June 15, 2021). "SSLAYYYTER'S 'TROUBLED PARADISE' IS A FUNNY, CATCHY, BOUNDARY-PUSHING COLLECTION OF SONGS". PopMatters. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ Hull, Tom (July 5, 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ "Slayyyter". FADER Label. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "Slayyyter - Troubled Paradise". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ a b "Slayyyter announces debut album 'Troubled Paradise'". NME. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Foster, Liz (2019-03-05). "Slayyyter and the Future of Pop Music". Medium. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "@slayyyter on Twitter: "saving this style for S2"". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "@slayyyter on Twitter:" yes :} will be finished for s1 deluxe edition"". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Wang, Steffanee. "Slayyyter's Go-To Sad Song Is This Britney Spears Classic". Nylon. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "@slayyyter on Twitter: "s1 will be cute but im already working on s2 and its much better"". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "Fans Of Gwen Stefani & Fergie Will Have A New Fave In Slayyyter". Bustle. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "Slayyyter drops raucous new single "Self Destruct" featuring Wuki". The Fader. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "@slayyyter on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Sajae Elder (November 13, 2020). "Slayyyter talks a good game on "Throatzillaaa"". The Fader. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "ACE Repertory". www.ascap.com. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Slayyyter – Throatzillaaa (2020, File), retrieved 2021-06-12
- ^ Slayyyter – Clouds (2021, File), retrieved 2021-06-12
- ^ Slayyyter – Cowboys (2021, File), retrieved 2021-06-12
- ^ Slayyyter – Over This! (2021, File), retrieved 2021-06-12
External links
edit- slayyyter at slayyyter.com
- Slayyyter - Troubled Paradise at discogs.com