Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter Wallice first wowed audiences in October 2020 when she released the single “Punching Bag.” The track made its way onto several indie and pop playlists and has been streamed on Spotify more than 1.6 million times.
What has transpired since has been a takeover of sorts. Wallice went on to release three additional singles in the first half of 2021. All are featured on her debut extended play “Off The Rails” which is out today.
Wallice has watched her streams go up quickly. She had 400,000 listeners per month in late April and now has nearly 650,000. Thanks to her relatable lyrics that flow over well-mixed music, Wallice is truly an artist on the rise. Her lyrics personify just about any situation other fellow twenty-somethings face.
Take the song “23” for example. It is about being in your twenties, of course, and actually 22, specifically.
“In my childhood bedroom
And I’m so bored of 22
Same old nothing every day
Too old to be a runaway”
While the tune she sings these lyrics to are catchy, they also embody a real emotion. What is a 22-year-old to do when stuck at their parent’s house? You’re too old to be rebellious ,but old enough that you feel pressure to be responsible.
“And I just can’t wait to be all grown up and 23
And tell me what is wrong with me
I miss my Ohio fake ID
Maybe I’ll get married soon
And buy a house with three bedrooms
And settle down and get a dog
And make my partner get a job”
This chorus says what a lot of people think at age 22. You are not quite in the real world, but when you hit 23 and get your diploma or a real job, you become an “adult.” Now Wallice, among others, will get to “grow up.” She is not sure if that is really what she wants. Why else would she reminisce about her Ohio fake ID? This is a reality in a catchy song. This song captures the scary turn many of her listeners are taking as they transition from being a college “kid” to a full-fledged “adult” seemingly overnight.
Another successful single from the EP is “Hey Michael.” It’s about the partying dude who might be a touch older than the crowd at the party. A typical dude’s dude, Michael likes Pulp Fiction (which the music video is based on) and hangs out with so many girls; you can’t tell which one is his girlfriend. Wallice is again able to unleash reality in the form of fictional characters in her lyrics.
There may not be a rising artist in the world with better lyricism than her at the moment. That is her largest appeal to fans. She is joined for a verse by marinelli of “Turtleneck Sweater” fame. Adding a male voice to “Hey Michael” makes the song feel more real and adds both appeal and new listeners.
The title track on “Off The Rails” is another story we all know well, but this one is a feeling.
You know those days. Nothing goes right. You are broke, you feel like you cannot try your best, but really you are, and maybe you even lose your phone along the way. You will have to settle for playing the radio in your used car instead of hooking up the aux. “Off The Rails” glides over this metaphorical bad day with vocals that both sing like a catchy pop track and rap over the echoey drumbeat. She also showcases her vocals by hitting high notes. These elements plus lyricism make it appealing.
The other songs on the EP, “Dramamine” and “Headache” were previously unreleased but hold up well among the promotional singles.
The latter closes the EP with some trademark noisiness that separates Wallice from other mainstream artists. Her future is a bright one and “Off The Rails” is more than a spark. At 22, Wallice is already dazzling. We cannot wait to see what happens when she turns 23.
Stream “Off The Rails” here.
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