Ed Sheeran — ‘Divide’
Following the debut of several hit singles like “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill,” Ed Sheeran finally released his third album, “Divide,” March 3. Once again, Sheeran produced a perfect balance of songs that force listeners to either reach for tissues or dance to the tunes.
The album approaches topics like heartache and love in authentic ways, still accompanied by his guitar. “Dive” explores the fear of falling in love with someone new and the possibility of being hurt. “Perfect,” a love ballad comparable to Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud,” will make even the most cynical person hopeful of love with lyrics like, “But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own.”
His song “Supermarket Flowers,” which was written from his mother’s point of view as an ode to his late grandmother, tugs at your heart strings and offers a unique view at coping with loss.
Sheeran even flexes his rapping skills in “Eraser,” where he covers the struggles of fame, the temptations of drug use and loneliness. His attempt at singing a verse in Spanish during the catchy tune “Barcelona” was a success in making girls everywhere swoon.
“Divide” is certainly comparable to his other works and is a perfect representation of Sheeran’s musical skill.
Maggie Rogers — ‘Now That the Light is Fading’
After catching the attention of singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams during a master class at New York University, Maggie Rogers released her first extended play, “Now That The Light is Fading.”
Rogers’ sound is a blend of electronic dance music, pop and folk, curating a unique listening experience for fans. Her song “Alaska,” which she performed for Williams, is centered around adapting to changes and self-transformation as she sings, “And I walked off the old me.”
Rogers’ music is like an epic collaboration of Florence and the Machine, Birdie and Calvin Harris in order to create this eclectic sound. This musical style is met by Rogers’ diverse vocals, which offer the right amount of power to compliment the lyrics.
Lorde — ‘Green Light’ and ‘Liability’
It’s been two years since the release of the track “Magnets” featuring Lorde and five since she released music of her own, but the wait was well worth it.
Lorde released two singles, “Green Light” and “Liability,” which offered an updated version to her normal style. Unlike her more solemn tone, “Green Light,” released March 2, is the uplifting breakup song listeners need to power through a split. This change in sound compliments the lyrics of the tune effortlessly.
On the other hand, “Liability,” which was released March 9, is the somber tempo we are used to from Lorde, with a slight twist. The delicate piano in the background gave the song a light touch, allowing listeners to focus on the lyrics. The song focuses on the torment people face for being different, being labeled as a liability and eventually learning to overcome those obstacles in order to accept oneself.
Although I have not always been a fan of her alternative sound, “Green Light” and “Liability” are more approachable tracks that allow her to retain her originality. Lorde’s progression and evolution as an artist is definitely one to watch as fans wait for the full album “Melodrama” to come out June 16.
