There are soo many ways to approach a SZA body of work because of her artistic merit but for specificity I will be engaging with LANA as a stand alone rather than a deluxe. The title and artwork for Lana suggests that this is a whole new person or personality being introduced and it has 15 songs, making it an album by itself.
She opens up with a so to speak letter to self “No More Hiding”, she’s searching for reality and realness in a life one can only conclude has been shrouded with delusion and denial. “What do I do” is a take on heartbreak and fear after losing a partner you still care about. “Bet she with you right now, on it. Know she with you right now, on it. What do I do?” is heart wrenching. She’s laying out the foundation for Lana, as in what led her to where she is and her journey to reclaim power and self worth.
Kendrick’s energy is tuned to perfection on “30 for 30” He gives hopeless romantic SZA some good insight “You fucking with niggas that’s thinking they cuter than you, Say you on your cycle, but he on his period too, oh”. Kendrick’s verse brings the album energy to a whole new sphere. It brings conviction, validation and action. Lana must make a move. It’s like calling on your big brother to help you in a fight, and dot is fearless in the moment. He has literally come to help her take her power back. The instrumental starts of very intergalactic matching with the Alien theme of the album and cover art (Sza as a humanoid alien bug). Real time sightings of drones and orbs flying over US cities plus Kendrick’s mention of spaceship makes the timing of this song very poignant. Whether it’s a Drake diss or not “30 for 30” is timely and culturally relevant. It cements their musical chemistry. This song is so in tune with real time happenings I wonder if it’s what delayed the album. Kendrick bar about “niggas who think they are cuter than you” could very well describe the sassy Atlanta archetype rappers discussing him currently on interviews. Kendrick and Sza are speaking to our times, Chat!
Diamond boy is an upgrade, she seems to have advanced to a solid dude who has control and she wants his affirmation. It’s a lovers song and if you’re the man she’s singing about you feel appreciated and seen. The instrumentals haven’t missed yet on the album. Diamond boy could easily be a dimensional being, his face is shinning ✨
BMF is uptempo, more of an alternative sound and it’s working. She’s geeking over a street type dude so it makes sense she’s in her pop fan girl vibe. “Ooh, he bossy, ooh, hе crip walkin’ took me to slauson and he slut me out, And when I got a problem, he get to packing He ’bout all that action, call him Mr. Handle It”. Shes crushing for a bossy type dude, a protector type dude, she’s craving mescaline energy. “Young and fine, dark and handsome” she sings, Lana is back outside and doing the town. She’s blowing money fast, salute to big meech!
After a few more alternative songs we come to ‘Cry Baby’ which is the anchor of the album. It’s the catalyst for change, in this song you hear SZA take some accountability for her actions in the past but still manages to sneak in “it’s not her fault its Murphy’s law”. Suggesting that what could go wrong always went wrong. It’s also a play on “Interstellar” the Movie, where a father leaves her daughter aptly named “Murphy” for a humanity saving voyage to space. SZA could be saying her issues are fundamentally daddy issues. It ties in well with the intergalactic, space/alien themes built within this body of work.
While we are still on the voyage of truth SZA hits us with a STM favourite “Kitchen”, this song beautifully samples Isley brothers “VOYAGE TO ATLANTIS”. If you needed proof that SZA is on an intergalactic journey with intergalactic beings here you have it. The vibes on this song are a 10 and the replay value is a 10. It has feel good factor and holds truth. The lyrics are raw and relatable “You know that dick been good to me, you make it hard for me to choose me”.
Drive introduces the closing of the album, it feels like we are beginning to get the final thoughts from Lana. She’s feeling confident and her courage is up, she’s addressing issues. She’s getting her head right! “Another Life” once again borrows its tittle from an interstellar travel alien series. The album concludes at Saturn, suggesting that we’ve arrived to this alien place, which is somewhat deceptive. She craves and fantasies about Saturn being better than reality. “Stuck in this paradigm, don’t believe in paradise, this must be what Hell is like, there’s got to be more. Sick of this head of mine intrusive thoughts, they paralyse”. She continues her introspective thoughts “I’ll be better on Saturn, none of this matters, dreaming of Saturn”. Her fantasy about Saturn might be the cause of some of her problems. She’s so often absent in her mind chasing the feel good factor that she struggles to be present in reality and for that reason can’t deal with reality. SZA in her own words advertises Lana as “Healing” but after our first listen, it’s a loop…
Lana get’s a collective 7.5/10 from the STM family, “Kitchen” and “Cry baby” stand out as authentic truths. This body of work can be a catalyst for a new beginning and we look forward to the future voyages of Solana or the intergalactic bug humanoid being conceptualised as Lana.
