Fearless

 

A profound debut from vocal powerhouse: Jazmine Sullivan

With a title as bold as Sullivan’s voice, fearless is a flawless debut that is a gracious letter to self reflection. This album forces one to access their hidden fears and leaves no emotions uncovered, exploring approaches to growth and the humbling experience of healing. Not only speaking on the mental anguish that begins in the first steps to a break up with one's lover, but also the hardship that comes along when your only option is to become self aware and snap out of the illusion that relationships drag you into.

Fearless drowns out the background noise in your mind providing you with an hour of lyrical lessons that force you to listen to the harsh truth. It's not an album that romanticises love, no not at all. This album shows you the ugliness that comes with unconditional love - the grit, the fight, the fear. 

Starting with “Bust your windows”, Sullivan introduces us to a woman scorned. A song that tells the tale of a woman that's dealt with infidelity within her relationship, this song leaves no room for self doubt. A ballad that thrives off of its self conflict, Sullivan sings about the hurt that caused her to do things she isn't proud of, making her a woman that she wishes she wouldn't have become. Unfortunately, she reminds us that the high of getting revenge doesn't take away the pain that's been caused: “why am I the one that's crying, why am I the one that's still crying”. 

Following the hit, comes the next single “Need U bad” which actually might be one of Sullivan's most highly acclaimed songs. This reggae ballad brings out Sullivan’s desire in her relationship, paying attention to the inevitable longing that follows you when left lonely, the lyrics primarily speaking on the unwavering desire that's felt after meeting someone you like. “Need U bad” touches on the duality of lust, it being both invigorating and dangerous simultaneously. 

Next is upbeat “my foolish heart” which is left to mislead us with lyrics that aren't as playful. Sullivan begins to reintroduce us to her storytelling talents with this song as she recalls the confusion that's brought after allowing yourself to fall for someone unworthy. “My foolish heart” is hyperbolic, layered in metaphors on the troubles of leading with emotion rather than logic. It's a song dedicated to the idea that love is blind as even Sullivan (a rehearsed lover) knows better than to fall for the wrong guy.

Sullivan knows how to keep us entertained with her songwriting, continuously using techniques to make her songs more relatable to many; a perfect example is the following song “Lions and tigers and bears” is a play on children's tales. A great way to depict the essence of fears that can't truly be measured with any physical forms that make sense of them. “I'm not scared of lions and tigers and bears, but I'm scared of loving you” is again hyperbolic but also a very carefully thought out way to help people understand the proximity of Sullivan's fears. Fear isn't something that is fully comprehensible because it’s abstract in so many ways but it's important to note that your own fears must be accepted before they are overcome, which is exactly what Sullivan’s album is doing. Fearless is a dedication to loving fearlessly and allowing yourself to be loved without limits.

Within this song, Sullivan is speaking on the fear of opening up and the vulnerability that comes with leaving your heart bare for someone to see, which she compares with being harder than any other thing she's had to face. It’s clear she appears more confident in this song as she reminds us that she is manifesting her fearless persona within the lyrics and abandoning her regressed self. Yet this illusion is blurred in “Fear” when she takes us back to the anxiety and angst that being fearful carries. 

Another hit single within the album that's dedicated to her uncontrollable unease “Fear” is a song that literally lists out all Sullivans fears leaving her cards all on the table. This is done intentionally as Sullivan purposely uses her own anxiety to uplift others within lyrics “this may sound silly but it's true, so don't pretend it ain't you too”. Making sure to reiterate that everyone feels these emotions and that it's fear that drives us through countless situations; that's what makes us human. 

The album wraps up with “Best of me”, a final tortured love song about the hardships of loving someone. A tragic realism is laced throughout this track, love can cause mental strain when it's not right for you. “I wanna let go, but he just gets the best of me” is a strong line that epitomises the self restraint that falters when it comes to people you love. 

Finally, I couldn't leave off without  pointing out that this album does not contain even one positive song about love which is a rarity. Obviously, Sullivan didn't want to romanticise her experiences and wanted to show all the layers that come with loving someone romantically. A debut that's grounded in honesty and proficient storytelling, Fearless is exactly what you want from an R&B album and more.

Fatima <3