D’Lee just released her debut EP “Wonder Woman” on October 3, 2024!
“Wonder Woman” comprises D’Lee’s 6 previously released singles, put together to tell a fantastical and realistic tale of coming up, struggles, resilience, and strength. Something that stands out narratively is that it seems to come in two sections. The first section is the fantastical. It comprises 3 tracks, “Kissing Frogs”, “Cinderella”, and Wonder Woman”. These tracks all use stories from fantasy to get into some of the nitty-gritty of real life.
‘Kissing Frogs’ stands out as a heavy hitter to kick things off. Musically, it’s one of the more rock-influenced tracks on the album and jumps into things with more than enough power and energy to spare. The vocals bend and weave with a brassy rasp that works with growls and jumps. And, the instrumentation uses punchy bass and a guitar with growls that fit with the vocals. Lyrically, it implements the story of “The Princess and the Frog” and uses the idea of “frogs” to talk about disappointment in former lovers. It pushes forward into exploring the want to find more true love.
Then there’s ‘Cinderella’. This track captures a softer and smoother vocal tone, but it has an uptempo energy compared to the prior track. It’s filled with so much excitement with quick shakers, intricate guitars, and a captivating guitar riff. The vocals take a higher tone and have more of a country twang. Fantasy comes into this track, as it uses the idea of Cinderella. It explores wanting to stay home and rest or just go out and have fun, and it says that Cinderella wants this too. “Even Cinderella needs to break the routine,” D’Lee’s vocals ring out.
‘Wonder Woman’ then takes on a softer style with an acoustic guitar and even more country influences instrumentally. The tempo pulls back compared to the rest of the EP so far, and there’s a bit more soul and smoothness in the vocals. The vocals and quick vocal bends are delivered with so much grace. “She wore courage like a cape / Flew through that storm … She faced her demons / Let her spirit soar,” the chorus states. In this track, D’Lee expresses her perseverance by relating it to that of Wonder Woman. What this track does well is showing both aspects of struggle but then the strength that was built through it.
You can learn more about ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Wonder Woman’ through previous Popfad coverage with the links included associated with the track names.
Now that the stories of fantasy are out of the way, the next three tracks take an approach more toward realism. These include ‘Better Than Bitter’, ‘Chasing Dreams’, and ‘Whispering Like a Yell’.
The organ-like sounds that usher “Better than Bitter” in are cut through by thrashy guitar and a heavy bass punch with quick percussion. The power of the vocals and growls provide a heavy hit like that of “Wonder Woman”, but this may be the peak of the album. It has so much energy, and that energy is a great way to portray the strong emotions hidden within. “I was stuck in a storm / Now I’m free / Got a heart full of love / And it’s all for me”, it expresses. It’s once again a track about struggles, but it looks more forward than previously. It’s like a race toward a better future that expresses how much self-love and perseverance it took to get there.
‘Chasing Dreams’, then may just be the most laid-back track tempo-wise. The acoustic guitar is soft but lifelike, and the synthy bends bring more color to the track. The percussion does well at holding the softness while having enough diversity to be interesting. This track goes into what it’s like to be a single mother. It talks about realistic struggles such as having to work two jobs and survive for the self and the child, but it’s all about also having the strength to chase dreams despite it all.
‘Whispering Like a Yell’ has a captivating instrumental bounce and vocals that show even more soul than previously. It has an emotional ballad-like sound, the percussion has a soft drive, and the bass and guitar play well together to make that bouncy-like sound. Though there are bends in the vocals, a lot of this track works with well-held vocal notes that show a lot of power and control. The lyrics express a resounding feeling of hurt where it feels like “Whispering like a yell”, the title of the track and main hook. It’s a song about yearning for love and help through a dark time. It asks to be saved from a current situation where help is needed.
Though the singles going into this EP were all previously released, this may be the best way to listen to them. The way they line up tells a cohesive and emotional story that explores the highs and lows in life. Though overall, it shows resilience and a want to move forward and keep growing. Overall, it has a lot to share in its aspects of strength and hope for a better future despite struggles in life. In this way, it’s very profound and may be helpful for those searching for strength. Also, D’Lee’s signature blend of Country and Rock is on full display, and it shows just how much diversity and influential range goes into it.
You can learn more about ‘Better Than Bitter’ through the associated link in this paragraph.
D’Lee is an East Texas-based, country and rock fusion artist with more than enough soul to spare. She’s already made an impact by performing across America. She uses her personal life to craft the narratives found in her songs. This songwriting style is extremely open and explores struggles and the power that it takes to get through them. Her influences range from Dolly Parton, to Prince, to Wynona Judd, and even more. These influences build into a diverse, authentic, and emotional sound. D’Lee also is the lead singer in the band Brazos Moon, who were selected as a 2024 up-and-coming band. This is an artist who works with creativity and openness both in lyrics and music, so let’s see where that takes her next!
Written by Sage Plapp
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