Initially, it might be annoying to read about Sigrid’s emergence into the pop music scene. Every article and interview mentions her makeup-free appearance and girl-next-door aesthetic. But after giving her debut album, “Sucker Punch,” a listen, the connection between her image and music becomes clear.
Born in Norway, Sigrid is yet another Nordic pop export looking to find a niche in the pop landscape. What differentiates her from others is an enthusiastic and youthful stage presence, as well as a singing range that can instantaneously jump from low to high notes like an excited squeal.
What also differentiates her is that she doesn’t do much to distance herself from “the average person.” Pop acts often craft fantasies and worlds for fans to lose themselves in. Sigrid does neither of those things.
Her first single, “Don’t Kill My Vibe,” was released back in 2017, with an EP of the same name being released shortly after. The next EP, titled “Raw,” featured even more earworms and catchy arrangements.
Both projects feature anthemic pop songs with punchy vocals. It is strange, then, that the strongest cuts from these projects, like “Plot Twist,” “High Five” and “Schedules,” didn’t end up on the debut at all.
Yet “Sucker Punch” still manages to open with a bang. The title and opening track enters with a bouncy bass and a playful, perhaps flirtatious, singing tone. Sigrid confesses, “I guess I didn’t understand / That I fell for you, I lost my cool.” Like a strong first impression, the verses explode into the chorus where Sigrid promises she’ll, “still come back for that / Sucker punch.”
On “Basic,” Sigrid refers to the colloquial term that describes boring and mainstream people, but hijacks the definition to declare her desire to let her guard down with someone. “You make me so complicated / Can I be basic with you?” Sigrid wants to find someone who lets her take off the mask we all wear for others that says, “I’m interesting, I’m unique!”
“Strangers” has a rapid-fire synth beat that makes you want to move, but lyrics like, “We’re falling head over heels / For something that ain’t real / It could never be us,” suck the energy right out of you. The bridge is anthemic with its crowd claps and satisfying flow from Sigrid.
Things slow down a bit on “Level Up,” where relationship struggles are compared to boss fights in video games,“‘Cause when we get through the struggle / That’s when we level up.”
However, slow tracks like this pale in comparison to the high energy she offers normally.
“Sight Of You” features triumphant strings and a driving beat. The song is an endearing double entendre, in which she sings to a love interest and her listening audience, “Sometimes it’s like nothin’ is going my way / Even though I know I’m getting up on that stage / But now that I’m here, I got reason to believe / Just the sight of you is getting the best out of me.”
Despite the infectious alacrity, one might become a little bored, as there isn’t much variation in sound. Basses bump and instruments strike positively, but the tracks sound too similar, leaving more to be desired.
Ironically, “Business Dinners” shows up near the end to fulfill that desire. A rebellious track dipped in bubbly synths, Sigrid sings about wanting to be more than just “pictures, numbers, figures.” It’s the best track on the album; probably because it sounds like avant-garde pop productionist Sophie had a hand in it.
“Sucker Punch” isn’t avante-garde at all, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There are fantastically produced and fun pop songs here, but nothing particularly revolutionary or forward-thinking.
This is how we get back to Sigrid’s girl-next-door aesthetic. A well-fitting T-shirt and a pair of jeans are great, but sometimes it’s nice to dress up that T-shirt with something a bit fancier — throw on a flashy blazer, or break out those chunky platform shoes. Fashion and pop music is at its most fun when it experiments and breaks from the mold.
Don’t get it twisted; you’ll have a good time listening to this debut. But don’t expect a futuristic pop rave or an eccentric cocktail party. Expect an intimate hangout where close friends let their emotions run wild, cheerleading each other on into the night.
Originally published in The Daily Titan on March 19, 2019.