Petrichor
Perfume connoisseurs will recognize the title of the shadowy singer-songwriter’s third album: the mythic word for the earthy scent that accompanies the first rain after a long dry spell. For 070 Shake, the smell reminds her of her childhood in New Jersey; her mother would point it out after a heavy rain. After breaking through in 2018 with a handful of deeply felt features on songs from Pusha T and Ye, Shake’s haunting blend of rap and R&B wallowed in romantic anguish. On *Petrichor*, the 27-year-old musician gets vulnerable, stripping down her sound and falling headfirst into love. With the help of two longtime collaborators, composer Johan Lenox and producer Dave Hamelin, the ultra-private musician departs from the foggy synths and heavy vocal processing of past work, embracing guitar, piano, and lovestruck lyrics that leave it all on the table. Still, moodiness and mystery abound, from the dark ’80s power-pop of “Elephant,” an ode to uneasy mornings after long nights, to “Vagabond,” which channels old spaghetti westerns for a song about giving up your wild ways for a more domestic life. The tight guest list is made up of iconoclastic divas only (like an inspired cover of Tim Buckley’s “Song to the Siren” with none other than Courtney Love), but the best cameo comes from Shake’s partner Lily-Rose Depp, who delivers a raw spoken-word poem touching on aliens, Joan Baez, and mutual masochism.
The New Jersey multihyphenate looks to level up with a boldly experimental album marked by arena-rock grandiosity and sudden switch-ups.
Petrichor's maximalism is not a flaw but its greatest strength, a testament to 070 Shake’s boundless creativity and vision.
070 Shake's 'Petrichor' is a lovesick showcase – an invite into her deepest vulnerabilities, desires and otherworldly imaginations.
A home to some of music’s most eclectic tastemakers, New Jersey is a state that nurtures its regenerative formula. Amongst those challenging the status
The one-time rapper unleashes howling guitars, weeping strings and OTT vocals – including those of Courtney Love – on her overcooked third album
The nu-metal rocker’s comeback finds a worthy heir to Chester Bennington in Emily Armstrong. Plus: Shawn Mendes, Flo, Pa Salieu, 070 Shake