Music Review: @JustSza – Z

Sza has not let up since her introduction as TDE’s R&B queen. Releasing the seminal S to the adoration of fans, Sza unlocked the door to opportunity and threw away the key. Now, it is her time to keep shining. She is in the perfect position to keep making music to establish her own idealistic sound. With Z, she delves even deeper into more layers of herself with music that has layers of their own.

Z distinguishes her as a prominent piece in the TDE puzzle.

Sza, among anything, refuses to relinquish her grip on her ideals or beliefs. “UR” is the perfect elaboration of said ideals with statements like “Clarity is a state of mind/’freedom ain’t real’- you sold you that lie”. After sharing duet time with Chance the Rapper on “Childs Play”, Sza waxes poetic on the winning the affection of someone special and forgiving the hurt through “Julia”. Her inner layers keep coming off on tracks like the quirky “Hiijack” and soothingly somber “Warm Winds”. Through each song, we get to see what Sza is about.

Yet, the layers come off even more on the last five tracks of the album. “Green Mile” references the effects of a harsh reality she went through (broken hearts, bullying). The ethereal “Babylon” flexes on screwed relationships while “Sweet November” has her falling right back into said affairs. “Shattered Ring” and “Omega” rightfully ends off an album that is both spiritually cleansing and carnally enveloped. In short, Sza bared her soul for us to listen along to.

With numerous producers matching the nuances that her music possesses, Z is an album that is both revealing and daring. Sza dared herself, and the listener, to be true and share within her world. Meanwhile, she reveals so much of herself that she really can’t turn back now. With her A EP coming into play soon (I hope), it remains to be seen what direction Sza takes. I do understand, however, that plenty of us will willingly go along for the ride.