Submitted By: Stella Ferro

I had been anticipating the release of Debby Friday’s new album since I first listened to the track “I GOT IT (feat. UÑAS),” back in February when it was released as a single. I was instantly obsessed with the overwhelming distortion of bass and drums, the heavy driving beat, the powerful urge to dance, or maybe to fight. And it does not disappoint. 

In “GOOD LUCK,” Friday draws inspiration from her own inner turmoil and moral complexity, using the medium of music to explore her darker urges and emotions. The music itself reflects this in its severity. Her soupy kaleidoscope of techno, punk, rap, pop, blues, noise, and rock music puts me in the mind of other experimental black artists like Clipping (with whom she featured on the song “Back Up 2021”), Death Grips, and Moor Mother. It’s aggressive, yet hypnotic.

 Her driving electronic bass and percussion, heavily distorted and mixed with spooky un-placeable, horror-movie-esque sounds is genuinely kind of scary. In the track “LET U DOWN,” her voice echoes over the harsh wails of a guitar and a simple bass riff reminiscent of Bauhaus. As Friday lists off her accomplishments: “I been a mean lover, I been a dream crusher…I been your Brutus, your Judas,” it feels like she’s going to step on me. Unless she can’t be bothered. The second to last track on the album, “PLUTO BABY,” is distinctly foreboding with an ever-present rhythmic sound of sharpening a knife.

I recommend everyone listen to “GOOD LUCK.” It is Triumphant. Spicy and psychedelic, with a strong vein of science fiction–perhaps informing the neon-sasquatch photographs of the album art. And to everyone facing their demons, good luck!