SZA’s much-anticipated deluxe album, “Lana”, released on December 20, 2024, is the expanded version of her December 9th, 2022 hit “SOS”. Featuring artists like Travis Scott, Phoebe Bridgers, Kendrick Lamar, and Baby Keem, the album can be streamed on music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. What makes SZA one of the most exciting artists today is her ability to take listeners through the emotions of love, loss, and self-growth with her playful beats and soul-touching lyrics.
“Lana” is a great album after her previous one “SOS”- considering how big of a hit it was. The deluxe version adds texture to the album through the subtle changes she made to her old songs. SZA has grown as an artist between the release of “SOS” and “Lana”. The main deal about “Lana” is in how SZA continues to give off emotional insight while exploring different sounds, making it a perfect continuation of the journey she began with “SOS”.
One of the highlights of the album is “30 for 30,” which is a song that quickly got popular amongst fans because of its captivating production featuring the rapper, Kendrick Lamar. The song is about coming to terms with growing up but still having the scars of childhood. The line “30 for 30, I ain’t even thirty” became a catchphrase, this line talks about the pressure to have everything sorted still at a young age. It’s an up beat song with a touch of jazz. The song’s ability to capture “coming-of-age” emotional state is what makes it easy to relate as a teen.
Another great song on the album is “BMF,” which blends a tuneful and a powerful beat along with the lyrics of self-reflection. The production and SZA’s meaningful lyrics give off that groove and passionate vibe, it makes “BMF” feel like a bold viewpoint of acceptance, with SZA embracing her imperfect self and the messy sides of love and life. It’s a shift from the more somber songs on her original album “SOS”. The way SZA showcases her insecurities and strengths makes this one of my favorite tracks on the album.
For someone like me, in high school, who likes deep and personal music, “Lana” is definitely worth a listen. If you like her previous hits like “SOS” or “Ctrl”, you can only be surprised by how SZA’s music continues to shift but keeps the loyalty to her core. Her deluxe album encourages self-growth, and helps discover different sides of emotion and a sense of self that is still within the reach of many listeners. SZA has really grown as a vocalist and storyteller, and she really puts that on display throughout “Lana”. This album is a strong 9/10 for me; I would recommend it to anyone at The Village School who enjoys music that’s emotional but, yet diverse.
