CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE

The last time we heard new music from Summer Walker was in 2021 with her sophomore effort, *Still Over It*, which chronicled her messy and complicated relationship with Atlanta producer London On Da Track before, during, and after her pregnancy. The album’s relatability, cohesiveness, and introspective lyrics made *Still Over It* a certified hit, giving Walker her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. Since then, the singer-songwriter has been featured on tracks with Ari Lennox, Ciara, and The Weeknd, as well as expanding her family by welcoming a set of twins. “I’m really loving life right now, enjoying this new outlook on life, loving the new me, loving my kids and not letting life pass me by anymore,” she writes in an exclusive statement to Apple Music. Walker is in her soft-life era, which, according to social media, is a life free of struggle and stress and focuses more on joy and self-care. These ideals and themes are evident on Walker’s latest EP *CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE*, a follow-up in her *CLEAR* series, which she debuted in 2019. “The first one was kinda sad—all my music is sad—but I’m in a different space, so this one is more happy,” she said. “It’s a continuation in the sense of the music because it’s all live.” Where *Still Over It* deals with the loss of a relationship and the emotions that come with a breakup, *CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE* shows the singer-songwriter leaving those feelings of heartbreak and anxiety behind and embracing a life filled with ease. However, she still needs a reminder now and then. On the opener, “To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug),” J. Cole reaffirms her by letting her know it’s okay to take some time to clear her mind and forget the stresses from her fame. Summer tackles this newfound life that she’s chosen for herself by not following the same patterns from her past relationships (“New Type”) and quickly cuts ties with connections that no longer serve her (“How Does It Feel,” “Pull Up,” “Finding Peace”). On “Mind Yo Mouth,” she finds the confidence to say what’s on her mind, even if it bruises a man’s ego: “Wanna be with me then you gon’ get up off your bottom/Uh, wanna lay with me then you gon’ be a real man,” she swaggers. In true Summer fashion, she offers up introspective lyrics and reflects on her journey within her past relationships on the album closer, “Agayu’s Revelation.” On the Steve Lacy- and Solange-produced track, Summer talks about a realization she had during a conversation with her spiritual guide when she discovered that the partners she chooses are the reason her relationships fail: “They’re fragile/Their egos are fragile/They’re not quite ready to face themselves/Maybe now or ever.” “Maferefun oya, Maferefun Oshun,” Walker writes, with an intriguing kicker: “PS: album 3 soon.”

The Atlanta singer’s subdued new EP is less interested in reliving drama than finding peace.

Nothing is left to chance in Summer Walker’s music. An R&B disciplinarian, her catalogue is replete with echoes and call-backs. 2021’s ‘Still Over It’