Most artists would make the first song on their new album something welcoming, trendy or pleasing, at least to make the Spotify algorithm happy. Not
She crafted a song with clear red flags 鈥� 鈥淚 Never Said I Was Sane鈥� 鈥� a totally bananas opening cut that includes screaming, taunting, religious texts, whispering, heavy distortion, a little flute and a babyish pout. 鈥淟ost some screws along the way to L.A.,鈥� she sings.
That's why Reyez is always a glorious sonic handful and why the album 鈥淧aid in Memories鈥� is another of her messy triumphs. Think of her as the anti-Tate McRae.
The Toronto-bred musician is a magpie of an artist, taking a little from hip-hop here, dipping into some alt-rock on another, using a cool soul lick or a Latin beat. If you know where the next song is taking you, you're lying. She can go from purring along to a plunky guitar to feet-planted battle rapping, even in the same song.
Reyez, who in the past leaned on co-writers, this time often supplies the music and lyrics alone, a sign of her continuing maturity and control. Few artists could accommodate such varied big-name guests as Miguel, 6lack, Lil Yachty, Deyaz, Big Sean and Each time, she makes it work on her terms.
One song 鈥� 鈥淐ouldn鈥檛 Be Me鈥� 鈥� features Sam Smith, and you might expect to hear their voices swirling together in a melodic, naughty club banger. Instead, Reyez sings a melancholy ballad of lost love, with the last minute taken up by a touching voicemail by Smith sending her encouragement after the breakup.
There's often a bite to Reyez's songs so it's refreshing to hear unalloyed sincerity on 鈥淕oliath,鈥� a pure love song: 鈥淵ou love me like a Sunday morning/But you kiss me like a Friday night.鈥� There's also the fun dance-pop 鈥淣YB鈥� (for 鈥淣ew York baby鈥�) which has the vibe of a hysterically low-rent 鈥淎merican Boy鈥� by Estelle (she lands in Newark and is picked up by her lover in a truck).
is destined to be one of the sexiest songs of 2025 ("Cause you fit/Better than a pair of jeans, baby") and "Psilocybin & Daisies,鈥� lifts from 鈥�1979鈥� performed by The Smashing Pumpkins, terrifically. Who samples from the Pumpkins?
She and extend their long, fruitful collaborations 鈥� this time she accommodatingly stylizes the song "6lessings" for him as their styles swirl perfectly 鈥� and she gets slinky with the murky dance track 鈥淧alo Santo.鈥�
Reyez gets very personal at times 鈥� her estrangements with her brother is the topic of a song 鈥� and on 鈥淏een Abouta Year鈥� takes stock of her life: 鈥淲here鈥檚 the famous silver lining I was promised?/To be honest/Life is falling kinda short.鈥�
You and us all, sister. Just glad you're here.
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Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
