girl in red (“i wanna be your girlfriend”), the indie-pop artist that rose to fame after her SoundCloud debut, released her first studio album, “if i could make it go quiet,” April 30. 

Beginning in 2015, the Norwegien singer-songwriter, Marie Ulven, made a name for herself after her song “i wanna be your girlfriend” gained traction on online streaming services like SoundCloud and the Norwegian music website “NRK Urørt.” Following the recognition, girl in red proceeded to release her first singles in 2018, “summer depression” and “girls.” Released on major music streaming platforms, the singles received high praise from the Norwegian and American music charts. As an openly queer artist, girl in red, also gained popularity among the LGBTQIA+ community, as her songs went viral on social media platforms as queer anthems. 

The new album, “if i could make it go quiet” features the tracks, “Serotonin,” “Body and Mind,” “h****lovesickmess,” “midnight love,” “You Stupid b****,” “Rue,” “Apartment 402,” “.,” “I’ll Call You Mine” and “it would feel like this.” Compiled of singles and songs off of her EPs, “Chapter 1” and “Chapter 2,” as well as a few album originals, “if i could make it go quiet” further proves that girl in red is unapologetically herself and that she is here to stay. 

“Serotonin,” the first single which revealed the cover art of the album, was released in early March. Leading off the album, “Serotonin” is a bit of a misleading name, featuring lyrics “I get / Intrusive thoughts like cutting my hands off / Like jumping in front of a bus / Like how do I make this stop,” the song is a collection of feelings highlighting issues regarding mental health. The collection of negative feelings described by the lyrics is in contrast with the rather upbeat tempo and delivery. Shifting from a lyrical delivery to a more spoken word approach and back again, it is hard to pinpoint the exact genre the song fills, which further emphasizes the contrast between lyrics and tone. The chorus begins with “I’m running low on serotonin / Chemical imbalance got me twisting things,” and as the song moves through the different genres and approaches, it is as if listeners hear the way the mind is getting twisted. A strong track to begin with, girl in red comes out swinging by giving this song first place. 

Perhaps the most explorative track on the album, “Body and Mind,” displays an entire range that girl in red has yet to showcase. This is the type of song you turn up in the car with just to feel the bass. It is raw, honest and beautiful, bringing together the best aspects of girl in red in a new, refreshing way. Haunting listeners with lyrics like “I’ve been in the deep end since I realized / There is a difference between body and mind” and “I’ve been chasing everything that makes me feel cold / Practicing self love is something I don’t really know” the echoing ballad is yet another strong mental health oriented track for the album. 

girl in red has an unmatchable ability for lyricism as well as musicianship. Her talent demands attention and refuses to let go once it grasped. Listeners keep coming back for more and with this long awaited debut album it is easy to see why.

Image from girl in red via YouTube