Los Angeles pop punk artist deegie just dropped her first album EXES and it's a retrospective diary of dating's rollercoaster, filled with triumph, missteps, and heartache in a in a raw and unapologetic journey of thrills and lows. The new album is a triumphant and career highlight for songwriter and musician who began sharing music in 2022. Her music asks the questions listeners want to ask but are afraid to, with a potent directness and authenticity that is inspiring and important.
deegie was inspired to create EXES when she came upon decades worth of her personal journal entries. They were brimming with stories of love, lust, loss and everything in between. They chronicled the messiness of dating men with tendencies towards emotional manipulation, gaslighting and lies. deegie penned this album not for pity, but to powerfully expose the transgressions of men while celebrating her strength and tenacity to overcome their misdeeds.
The first track on deegie’s album ignites a sense of anticipation and wonder with a single word with “Expectations” repeated throughout the track. Without using complex lyrics, she builds excitement through instrumentation and layered vocals to create a sense of urgency, inviting the listener to stay for more. In this first track, she crafts the vibe of the album. It’s raw, honest, and sonically complex.
From there, deegie shows her unapologetic spirit by boldly naming the man who each track is about in the title of the song. There is "Scraps (Cleland)" an upbeat pop soaked rock banger with the artist proclaiming that she won't settle for less. She sings, " I don't want / your f*cking scraps," to her past lover showing him she knows what she deserves and will get it. Titles like “Go Be With Becca (Zach)” and “Gray Area (Jeff)” confront the listener and the subject of the song’s lyrics. They dare Zach, Jeff or Tom to listen. The song's instrumentation matches their angsty and bold messaging. deegie delivers a pop-punk sound that’s unabashedly provocative and edgy. She has the vocal prowess of Hayley Williams and the spirit of Avril Lavigne while staying uniquely deegie.
"Drunk Til I Puke (Robbie)" is an embrace of being single, doing whatever she wants to do and letting go of the toxicity after a breakup. The song features an anthemic chorus with a catchy, guitar-driven intro. Her delivery is both earnest and defiant, capturing the essence of rebellion and the struggle for authenticity and freedom. Finally there is "Never Look Back (PJ)", a melodic layered pop single filled with colorful guitar riffs, nostalgic rich instrumentation and catchy hooks.
This deeply personal album is what society needs to hear. The topics of sexual assault, personal identity and casual dating are universal and ever-present in current culture. When artists like deegie dare to pen an album this sincere and rooted in pain, it has the power to heal the masses and create a better world. Take a listen to deegie's EXES now and enjoy the music.
Connect with deegie: INSTAGRAM
