The sound of indie-style pop was never something I was interested in until seventh grade. I was listening to the radio when 2022 hit “Numb Little Bug” by Em Beihold came on and realized I liked it.

But it wouldn’t be until 10th grade when I heard Beihold’s “Scared of the Dark” that I realized the singer is not a one-hit wonder for me. When I learned that her debut album, Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter, would release on Feb. 27, I planned to listen at some point and did so at the very end of the day.

It is currently my favorite album.

The 11 tracks explore themes of codependency, self-doubt and ultimately finding peace in one’s true self.

The album opens with “Scared of the Dark” — released as a single in October — which explores navigating a relationship that doesn’t feel right and the fear of being alone. The fourth track, “Brutus,” delves into envy of popular artists. The track — along with other tracks in the album — go into a journal-like perspective on life, including lyrics like “I wish that I could say that I’m not the jealous type / But you’re Caesar and I’m Brutus minus that part of the knife / And I wish you the best while I’m watching from the side / But if I’m speaking honestly, I wish I had your life.”

The album’s tracks have catchy, melodic beats and relatable lyrics. One of my favorite tracks from the album is “Strong Medicine,” with lyrics like “I need a strong, strong medicine / Baby calls me sugar, but I feel so saccharine” and “I just want to get back home / Back to myself, back in control” being relatable due to their themes of self-doubt and wanting control.

“Hot Goblin” has lyrics “Sometimes I feel like I’m a hot goblin / Little bit perfect, little bit problem / Could be a dream or your worst nightmare / But I know who I am, so I don’t care” which I find relatable because I try not to think about criticism.

“Won’t Let Go,” the final track, stands out for its matured sound in comparison to Beihold’s more quirky-sounding songs. The track is about Beihold’s grandmother’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease from Beihold’s perspective, and stands out for sounding mainstream.

Em Beihold’s Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter is unexpected. I did not expect to be such a big fan of the instruments used in each track. Each track is crafted with a uniqueness mainstream music lacks.

I nearly skipped listening to the full album, but I am happy that I did. I look forward to Beihold’s next release.

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