No Love No Hate is a debut studio album by Just Honest. An alternative pop album, it deals with coming of age and was released independently on September 15, 2023.[2][1]
| No Love No Hate | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by Just Honest | |
| Released | September 15, 2023 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 24:11 |
| Label | Self-released |
| Producer |
|
Background and reception
editBackground
editRussia-born Germany-based artist Just Honest started the work on the album in 2021, as the first single "Toxic Culture" was released.[3][4] In 2023, the work on the album led to artist's nomination for Female* Producer Prize of the year by Sony Music and Female Music Collective Germany.[5][6] Album development was affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine[4] and national covid curfews.[7]
Content and reception
editOverall, the album delves into the topics of a first major dating experience and learning self-love through the perspective of parental abandonment.[1] In the review for Earmilk, Malvika Padin mentioned that the album "span[s] a myriad of emotions,"[2] while Plastic Magazine's Brittney Ann Lawrence noted album's "exceptional alternative pop sound" and its "infectious songwriting."[8]
Album name stems from the song "Toxic Culture," – a dream pop ballad that describes healing from the heartbreak after a cycling accident.[3][8][9] The song reached a million streams by 2023.[6] Album opener, the song "Curfew with You," captures initial infatuation[10] and it is a bedroom and orchestral pop song with theatrical mix, elements of twee,[7] and bright pizzicato string arrangements.[1] In an interview for the German newspaper MusikWoche, another song from the album, "Big Deal (Ur not A)," was described as a dance track about how a heartbreak becomes nothing compared to other issues in the world like wars and climate change.[5]
The album's closing track, avant-garde "I Had No Parents," was lauded by Modern Soulful Music Awards's Dorthea Enrique for its unconventionality and enigmatic lyrics that "set[] a new precedent in the industry."[11] The song serves as a final moment of reflection and letting go.[8][10]
Track listing
editCredits adapted from Tidal and from the album's liner notes.[12][10] All tracks were written and produced by Just Honest, in addition to what's noted.
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Curfew with You" |
| 3:01 |
| 2. | "Fuck You Song" |
| 2:41 |
| 3. | "Bad in Bed" |
| 3:03 |
| 4. | "Heavy" |
| 2:59 |
| 5. | "Big Deal (Ur not A)" |
| 3:54 |
| 6. | "Toxic Culture" |
| 2:38 |
| 7. | "Bye with a Happy Face" |
| 2:47 |
| 8. | "I Had No Parents" |
| 3:08 |
| Total length: | 24:11 | ||
Notes
- ^[a] signifies an additional producer
- All track titles are stylized in all lowercase.
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | September 15, 2023 | Self-released | [12] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Sznigir, Magdalena (2023-11-01). "Just Honest's "No Love No Hate": A Heartfelt Journey of Self-Discovery and Resilience". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ a b Padin, Malvika (2023-11-08). "Just Honest offers unfiltered honesty on debut album 'No Love No Hate'". Earmilk. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ a b Mestrinel, Gabriel (2021). "Just Honest: Chama Atenção De Ouvintes Em Novo Single "Toxic Culure"" [Just Honest: Grabs Listeners’ Attention With New Single “Toxic Culure”]. Roadie Music (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ a b Morgan, Adam (2022-03-30). "Just Honest "Heavy"". Surviving the Golden Age. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ a b Nehrkorn, Lisa (2023-09-01). "Die Gewinnerinnen* des Female* Producer Prize 2023 im Überblick" [The winners* of the Female* Producer Prize 2023 at a glance]. MusikWoche (in German). Berlin. Archived from the original on 2024-01-06. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ a b "Female* Producer Prize 2023: Das sind die Gewinnerinnen". Rolling Stone (in German). 2023-07-24. Archived from the original on 2024-01-06. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ a b Alexed, Johan (2021-11-10). "Just Honest – Curfew with you". PopMuzik.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ a b c Lawrence, Brittney Ann (2023-10-31). "Debut album from Just Honest". Plastic Magazine. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ "Just Honest (artist's bio)". Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07 – via Spotify.
- ^ a b c No Love No Hate (liner notes). Just Honest. 2023. 00727785424493.
- ^ Enrique, Rev. Dr. Dorthea (2023-10-23). "Germany's Just Honest Drops an Unconventional Commercial Track "I had no parents" – A Paradigm Shift in the World of Music!". Modern Soulful Music Awards. Archived from the original on 2024-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ a b "Credits / No Love No Hate / Just Honest – TIDAL". September 15, 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-07 – via Tidal (desktop).