Releasing singles and EPs since 2017, up-and-coming artist Chappell Roan (Kayleigh Rose Amstutz) released her first album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess on September 22, 2023. This album, compiled of a few previously released singles and original tracks, comes together to create one of the most promising showcases of “new talent.”
Taking five years to find her sound paid off. At the beginning of her career, Roan confined herself to curating a type of dark pop music with ballade undertones; describing her style further as a “dark and unsettling tone that underscores intense, somber lyrics” from a 2018 interview. As she grew into her truer form, finding herself, the curly-haired artist switched paths. Suffering from bipolar disorder, Roan was open with her audience about trials of experimenting with music while finding out how to keep a persistent presence throughout social media. As she experimented, she became more comfortable with going away from dark pop, and quickly shifted to “glammy, [upbeat] pop.” She also leaned in, becoming more comfortable with her femininity and sexuality. This shift in style and security of identity showcases true pop writing abilities in the new album. Roan goes above and beyond surface-level pop lyrics; truly understanding lyrical patterns and how to grasp an audience’s attention. Another large factor in her musical shift was moving from Atlantic Records to Island Records, as well as working with producer/songwriter Dan Nigro. Roan and Nigro truly meld perfectly together. She has a burning passion for writing and he conveys that energy right back into each note and lyric.
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (TRFMP) is a masterpiece. With some artists it makes it hard to get into their music due to the structure of their albums… but not Roan’s; TRFMP perfectly flows down the 14-track-long album. Sad songs are not hidden in the middle of the album or stuck together at the end, each song is placed in a spot that allows the album to cascade intricately from start to finish; it is not jarring to listen to in order. For example, tracks three through six showcase this aspect perfectly. Track 3 “After Midnight” is an upbeat track about what happens in her world after the clock strikes 12; she parties and finds those who want to share that experience with her, but she does not care who. With a softer delivery to the song (compared to a bass-filled song), there is room to place different tracks next to this song. It is simple, but such an excellent song. After a more upbeat track, listeners are guided to “Coffee.” This is a slow song, and the lyrics are quite the opposite, but it is not confusing. After partying the night and early morning away, “Coffee” expresses her sorrow as she has to push herself away from an ex who is no longer a suitable person for her. The beat is lost in the lyrics. Between the two tracks, she tells a story of the evolution of relationships she is in, the different meanings based off of the different points of life she is in. After “Coffee” comes “Casual,” a song that brings back a beat, a beat that pairs with the lyrics. Equally a sad song, track five can be delivered in many ways: hummed, screamed, or sung as listeners follow along with Roan’s impressive vocal range. Followed by that is “Super Graphic Ulta Modern Girl,” bringing back the album to a section of more upbeat and playful songs. This begins with a spoken word intro but carries a pop beat, best to dance to. Throughout the album, the transitions from verse one, to pre-chorus, to chorus contain a structure that starts off soft and explodes into something bigger than imagined. This crafts a unique listening experience showcased in almost every song on the album (most relevant in “Guilty Pleasure”). This transition from “upbeat, sad, to upbeat” happens three times throughout the album but works flawlessly. It makes for a listening experience that does not overwhelm a listener. One can “take it all in” while still being able to process Chappel Roan’s amazing lyricism.
The intense instruments are not the only thing that captures ears; listeners are simply never bored. Something so special about Roan’s writing is the ability to create a new type of timeless lyricism. She talks about modern-day scenarios of love as if they were typical situations that have always occurred from the earliest of times. She speaks about experiences at bars or with horrible dates as if they were life experiences a 50-year-old woman may experience. Although aspects of “glamor” pop may not be everyone’s preferred sound, her references are not obscure enough to lead listeners astray. Roan captures her audience and flows with it. Overall, this confessionalism, pop ballade album is honestly one of my favorite releases in 2023. My favorite songs from the album are “Guilty Pleasure,” “Naked in Manhattan,” and “Red Wine Supernova.” Becoming a fan back in 2021, it has been such a special experience to watch one of my favorite artists put together and craft her first album. TRFMP World Tour has been a phenomenally successful experience for the 25-year-old performer. All but four out of over 50 shows have sold out as she performed in North America during mid-2023 and toured Australia at the end of 2023. Her tour will stretch until mid-2024 as she circles back to well-populated North American cities around August/November.