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How Rebecca Black’s new record became her most liberated

BBG News

Rebecca Black has lived the majority of her life online.

Her name has seldom slipped the notice of the internet community ever since she was 13, or following the release of her 2011 music video for “Friday,” which immediately gained viral fame and earned a place among YouTube’s most popular videos. Since then, she’s explored various musical genres such as acoustic covers, radio-friendly EDM remixes, and alternative ballads in an effort to find her signature sound.

Currently, the 27-year-old artist claims to have nailed the ideal tone for her independently published seven-track album titled “Salvation” – a bold take on the constantly evolving hyperpop style.

For quite some time now, I’ve felt an urge bubbling up within me,” I admit. “Over the years, I’ve found myself repeatedly reaching a state of exhaustion, losing sight of who I am. However, with the creation of [‘Salvation’], I’ve begun to face and reshape my self-perception. I’ve started granting myself more freedom.

On an unanticipated warm December day, I chanced upon Black sitting outside Cafe Tropical on Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake’s vibrant street. Dressed in dark-wash denim and kitten heels, she was sipping a Diet Coke and nibbling on a trio of the cafe’s signature pastelitos. She joked about her morning-after hangover before sharing tales about the protective feelings she has towards “Salvation.” Scheduled for release roughly a year after her debut album, “Let Her Burn,” she confessed that she had been eager to unveil these new tunes for quite some time.

Black mentions, “It’s strange that I know this [album] exists, yet no one else does. I invested so much into it, and it feels incredibly secure.” He continues, “However, as time goes by, you come to understand that I’ve evolved and grown artistically, but the audience hasn’t seen this side of me yet.” As a few singles are released now, it’s a wonderful experience to witness the strongest connection people have ever made with my music at this stage in my career.

Last October, Black debuted her first single titled “Trust!” – a high-energy club track that blends techno beats with a steady electric guitar melody. In this song, the singer narrates a personal experience amidst a pulsating dance rhythm. The music video for this song exudes a playful, glamorous vibe as it unfolds in a courtroom setting. Black enters the scene veiled in gauze, sporting a blinged-out ankle monitor and crystal clear heels. She then proceeds to perform an energetic dance routine right before the judge.

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Following its debut, “Trust!” has gained significant popularity on Spotify, amassing over 3 million plays. This hit single was preceded by “Sugar Water Cyanide,” a modernized, grungy rendition of Y2K bubblegum pop, which dropped in December.

Black attributes a cultural shift in perception to the recent acclaim of her bold, maximalist pop style. Initially, she was hesitant about whether her audience would embrace it, but with the growing popularity of artists like Charli XCX and Chappell Roan, she feels that her listeners are now prepared for this new direction. As XCX revitalized club pop and Roan introduced queer love themes into mainstream pop, Black highlights the significance of making a powerful statement – particularly in a genre that is frequently criticized as being overly extravagant and shallow.

According to Black, great pop music shines when it’s at its most honest and personal. It adds depth to a track instead of just focusing on club-related themes, which can be enjoyable. However, if these songs also touch on deeper emotions that resonate with listeners, they become even more impactful. Interestingly, Black prefers dance songs that have undertones of sadness.

Instead of quoting specific songs, she points out that works such as those by FKA Twigs, including “Tears in the Club,” and most of Lana Del Rey’s music have a potent combination of strength and sadness.

The song “Salvation” combines a blend of melancholic, empowering, and sensual lyrics. Regardless of its lyrical themes, the unity of each track is derived from their shared quality as dance-like anthems. In the title track, Black sings about not needing anyone to rescue her, as she has already saved herself, over a soft synth background. Meanwhile, in “Do You Even Think About Me?”, she narrates the aftermath of heartbreak with an electronic beat taking prominence.

Black admitted that he was giving up on striving for perfection and politeness to win people’s favor or achieve success. Instead, these behaviors were causing more harm than good,” says Black. “The truth is, this project has been incredibly healing because I’ve finally learned not to fear everything so much.

By the time she reached her late twenties, the musician reflects that looking back on her teenage years provided her with the perspective needed to overcome those obstacles. In 2011, when Rebecca Black collaborated with music production company Ark Music Factory to produce “Friday,” she viewed it as a minor endeavor, something that could bolster her college application portfolio.

As she quickly rose to internet fame at just 13 years old, one of YouTube’s earliest viral sensations with 174 million views (and once the most-disliked video with 1.17 million thumbs down), her life took a dramatic turn. She faced endless online harassment and threats, which left her feeling frightened, cautious, and anxious. Despite this, her aspirations of becoming a performer remained undiminished.

After ‘Friday,’ all I desired was to be accepted and well-liked. I didn’t want to stir up trouble. I felt compelled to be someone I believed others wanted me to be, explains Black. However, this desire gradually seeped into my personal life and relationships. I found myself questioning why I disliked everyone, or even myself, or why I was consistently dissatisfied with the decisions I made. Occasionally, I would compose a song, only to loathe it a year later.

Over time, Black has evolved from an internet meme and brief appearance in Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)” video to a DJ on Boiler Room and a prominent queer pop artist. The impact she’s made on popular culture is clear, and with her latest release “Salvation”, her self-identity has never been stronger.

For quite some time, Black admitted that he was unsure about what kind of music he wanted to create. This uncertainty had been a significant challenge for him for a long period. It felt like he was asking himself questions such as “Who am I?” and “What is my unique style?”, and “What should my sound be like?” Now, however, everything seems clear to him.

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2025-02-27 20:31

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