girlpuppy - Sweetness

On her first album of alt-pop anthems—2022’s gorgeous, folk-infused When I’m Alone—girlpuppy (neé Becca Harvey) often felt like she was working in the shadow of her collaborators. Made on the other side of a relationship where she often felt marginalized, Sweetness felt like the right project for the 25-year-old Atlanta-based singer-songwriter to rethink her creative approach and work solely from her own lyrical and melodic ideas. The result of this process was a darker, more texturally expansive record than its predecessor, full of heart-rending songs about pushing back against self-blame and doubt. From its heavy-duty sonics to its naturally flowing melodies to its emotionally generous lyrics, every element of Sweetness exudes confidence, capturing Harvey relishing raw creativity and trusting her inclinations. The record takes place within that moment all artists wait for: when their “voice” becomes so clear, they realize they can just open their mouth and start speaking in it.