Shoshana Ami's BABY: A Heartfelt Journey Through Isolation and Longing

In BABY, her second full-length album, Shoshana Ami, transforms the raw, isolated emotions of the pandemic into a deeply personal and cathartic musical experience. The record, written during the latter half of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a testament to Ami's resilience, creativity, and ability to channel personal hardship into something universally resonant.

From the peaceful seclusion of Sag Harbor, Long Island, Ami found herself recovering from a severe case of COVID-19, retreating from the bustling streets of New York City. This period of forced isolation gave birth to BABY, an album that pulses with both vulnerability and power. The tracks feel like intimate journal entries set to music, where the wooded landscapes and quietude of her surroundings weave into the fabric of the sound. Listeners can even hear the wind in some of her voice memos, a haunting reminder of the outside world’s stillness while her mind raced with lyrical ideas.

The album opens with “You Break Me,” a celebration of emotional surrender that strikes the perfect balance between fear and freedom. The hook is infectious, highlighting Ami’s skill at creating melodies that stick long after the song is over. “Without You” delves into obsessive love with a no-holds-barred intensity, embodying the kind of all-encompassing passion that feels suffocating yet magnetic.

“I’m Not Cool Anymore” sees Ami grappling with the passage of time and the inevitable loss of youth. There's a poignant blend of self-awareness and humor here—Ami admits she's "still VERY cool," but the undercurrent of anxiety about aging and relevance cuts deep. Tony Conniff's production shines here, offering up quirky sonic textures that match the song's emotional complexity.

Perhaps the most striking track on BABY is “Mad Man’s World,” a harrowing narrative of survival and strength. It’s an anthem for women who’ve lived in the shadows of fear and pain, with a chilling, cinematic quality. The song’s dark lyrics are offset by Ami’s emotive delivery, making it both a protest and a confession.

“Wanna Have Your Baby” feels like a visceral gut punch in its exploration of longing and unreciprocated love. It’s messy, raw, and real—exactly what Ami excels at. With lines like “wanna have your baby, but I don’t have you,” she exposes the complexities of desire and frustration with painful clarity.

Throughout the album, Ami’s voice is the star—achingly vulnerable at times and unflinchingly bold at others. Her ability to seamlessly transition between different emotional landscapes is what makes BABY such a compelling listen. The production, spearheaded by Conniff and polished by Chris Gehringer’s mastering at Sterling Sound, maintains an organic quality despite the digital distance imposed by the pandemic. The album feels handcrafted as if each note and lyric were painstakingly shaped to convey precisely what Ami intended.

Thematically, BABY is a reflection of Ami's evolution—not just as a musician but as a person. From her classical music beginnings to her alternative pop-punk roots, Ami has always been a chameleon, adapting and growing through life’s challenges. With BABY, she invites listeners to join her in this journey of self-discovery and healing. It's an album born out of solitude, but it resonates with anyone who's ever felt broken and found a way to rebuild.

Shoshana Ami’s BABY is more than just a follow-up to Pretty Liar; it’s the emotional soundtrack to surviving, creating, and ultimately thriving in the midst of chaos. With each song brimming with personal meaning, this is an album that demands to be felt as much as heard.

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