romantic limbo: a concept album breakdown
Written by Daphne Bryant
Snoh Aalegra, a Los Angeles-based Swedish singer, was a protégé of Prince’s. Prince discovered her music, praised Aalegra for her seamless blend of R&B and soul as well as her subtle sensuality, and mentored her until his death. For me, Aalegra is a once in a lifetime kind of artist. I’ve seen her live twice, and will forever be mesmerized by her ability to evoke nostalgia and sound like the future. Her third studio album TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES is a hell of a concept album. It was released in July of 2021 and nominated for Best R&B Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, making it her most critically acclaimed piece of work.
TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES follows the trajectory of a relationship falling apart at the seams. Throughout the album listeners experience the loss of a lover and must deal with the emotional aftereffects as Aalegra and her featured artists croon their tales. TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES a rollercoaster in many ways; we see the temporary highs of a romance and the denial regarding this breakup. Eventually, Aalegra emerges with clarity, and a strong enough head on her shoulders to move forward. In many ways this album is therapeutic; I believe it’s so popular because it resonates with everyone who has ever gone through a waning relationship.
“ INDECISIVE”, the first track on the album, sets the tone for the entire narrative. Many times in TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES Aalegra makes contradictions in her lyricism, switches genre, and experiments with vocal technique. The entire project really gets at the human condition and the complexities of love lost.“ INDECISIVE” features lyrics such as “ Can’t you see I’m in my mind? / But isn’t that what you want, baby? / I’m so indecisive, but you make me like this.” The song is accusatory towards the lover, but also reveals that Aalegra is feeling vulnerable, foreshadowing the surplus of honesty and sheer exasperation coming up.
Sonically,“ NEON PEACH” ft. Tyler, The Creator is the most different from the rest of the album, with a groovy funk pop sound.“ NEON PEACH” also sticks out because of its playfulness, which can for the most part be attributed to Tyler, The Creator’s feature. Even though the song is about an unhealthy relationship, rap lyrics like“ Your boyfriend a clown / You lookin’ like a birthday party” make the listener laugh. The music video for this song is equally vibrant and goofy. In the midst of pensive and composed tracks,“ NEON PEACH” is the ideal pick-me-up.
“ TANGERINE DREAM” is one of my favorite tracks on the album. What I love most about it are the metaphors. We start the song off on a plane, then an airport, and Aalegra takes advantage of this with lines like “ So we fell off cloud nine” and “ I went to claim my baggage, that’s when you checked out.” The beginning of the song also features a conversation between Aalegra and her estranged lover, though it’s unique in that she is carrying the conversation all on her own, essentially singing back to herself. This is incredibly symbolic of the state of their relationship:“ But I wanna talk now / Told me that I’m such a “fucking singer, man you’re too loud” / Can you land that tone boy, can you calm down?” Hearing her frustration so explicitly really puts the listener in her position.“ TANGERINE DREAM” is the kind of song that makes you want to lie down facing up on your bed and stare at the ceiling, which is not an uncommon urge to feel when listening to anything by Aalegra.
Interestingly enough, the titular tracks are split into two separate songs:“ TEMPORARY HIGHS” and“ VIOLET SKIES”, strategically placed one after the other on the tracklist. At only one minute and twenty seconds,“ TEMPORARY HIGHS” is more of an interlude than anything. The last sentence uttered?: “Is it worth it?” I see“ VIOLET SKIES” as the answer in this sort of call-and-response, keeping with the continuity required of a concept album. However,“ VIOLET SKIES” provide no sense of resolution. This track ends with:“ If you’d say violet skies were right in front of our eyes / I would doubt you.” Aalegra leaves us in this suspension, this continued uncertainty and instability often found in a connection that is on the rocks. Coupled with the atmospheric production and her swoon-worthy voice, it’s impossible not to feel as though you are floating through a hellish headspace, warring with yourself and your partner. This emotional response is natural, as that sense of romantic limbo is the main theme of the album.
“ ON MY MIND” ft. James Fauntleroy is my second favorite track on TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES. As with most of the songs, I admire it for its rawness. Lyrics like “ Just know I feel a way ‘cause I know you still feel it / And in my mind / It ain’t over, though it’s over” perfectly capture one’s refusal to acknowledge the end of a relationship. Aalegra doesn’t shy away from that fool’s paradise notion. Placed over a Meek Mill style hip-hop beat,“ ON MY MIND” lays out a foundation for a listener to simultaneously bop their head and indulge in delusions about their ex.
TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES ends with“ SAVE YOURSELF.” This track is a complete turnaround. Aalegra has moved on, and matured which is evident in lyrics like “ Just know I’m good without you / You may not believe me (Just go ahead and save yourself).” Aalegra is entering a new chapter, one without this complicated lover, and the listener leaves the album feeling cautiously hopeful for a better and more peaceful future.
