Album Review: Three. Two. One. by Lennon Stella

Three. Two. One.

The wait for Lennon Stella’s debut album has finally come to an end after long anticipation. Lennon Stella’s early career was built through her appearances on “Nashville” and her collaborations on chart toppers such as “Polaroid” by Jonas Blue with Liam Payne and “Takeaway” by the Chainsmokers with ILLENIUM. Three. Two. One. is an announcement and a celebration of Lennon finally embarking on her solo career.

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In this album, Lennon includes lyrics that are all too relatable for listeners like the unexpectedness and confusion of finally being in a healthy relationship in “Golf on TV” or the moment you finally realize a relationship is over in ‘Kissing Other People.”

Immediately after hearing Lennon as a featured artist, I was drawn to her full-bodied and expressive vocals. Her acoustic covers on youtube show that she is an extraordinarily gifted singer in her own right. Three. Two. One. is a masterful compilation of songs that brings out Stella’s powerful vocals in slower, acoustic pieces while also using music production to experiment with sound. This blend of music creates an auditory experience for listeners to replay over and over again.

While in home quarantine, Lennon filmed the music video for “Fear of Being Alone” which speaks to her ability as an artist to adapt and to create, even in challenging circumstances. The “Fear of Being Alone” speaks to a truth that many of us struggle with: we can find ourselves in a broken relationship but can’t find comfort in our own solitude and company. The lyrics: “It’s not love that keeps us holding on … it’s the fear of being alone” hits this truth.

Acoustic pieces featuring a piano accompaniment like “Older than I Am” showcase Stella’s voice and ability to convey raw emotion as she wishes for the bliss and carefreeness of childhood but is instead confronted with the responsibilities that inevitably come with growing older.

“Weakness (Huey Lewis),” on the other hand, is quite sonically experimental and varied. It begins with noises from a home audio clip: hushed conversations, laughter, and instrumental noises (from a radio?). Then it transitions into a melody ushered in by a series of guitar progressions. The beginning features solos by Lennon and her younger sister, Maisy, which leads into a harmonic duet. Their voices compliment one another and add depth to the tonality of the piece. After this duet, there is a break, where a repeating bass line and percussion introduce a new type of sound. It is definitely more layered with music production and keyboard. In the span of one song, Lennon manages to incorporate both the acoustic and the synthetic elements of electronic music to craft a piece that is both interesting and pleasing for the ear.

Lennon Stella’s explosive debut album is catchy but not monotonic as some pop albums fall victim to. Lennon is definitely a rising artist to keep on your radar for the coming years.

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