Crystal Rose - "Arena"
CRYSTAL ROSE - “ARENA”
“Coming in hot with her first EP, Arena, Crystal Rose is quickly making a name for herself as a queen of the local scene. This release is a bit different than her previous two singles and shows off the power of her voice and her messages. Arena left me wanting for more and I’m already excited to see what she comes up with next. The theme here is self-empowerment and choosing yourself over the way others want you to be, something we all need to be reminded of from time to time.
“Renegade” is a declaration of drawn boundaries and independence, a self-love statement that claims importance over the degrading opinions of others. Sang alongside an equally smooth yet confrontational rhythm, Crystal Rose is not here to be fucked with, she’s here to thrive, and clearly, she is succeeding. Renegade queen is the perfect metaphor for abandoning the expectations forced onto us by previous generations clinging on to traditions that limit self-expression and existence.
The next track, “The Woman in the Arena” is a bold spoken word piece where she gives us a grounding and solemn pep talk of sorts. This speech serves as a reminder that “there is no effort without error” and “if she fails, she fails while daring greatly”. Paired with a ghostly trumpet and ambient sounds, this is something to meditate upon. Remember what she says here next time you find yourself criticizing another person’s endeavors, bring some humanity into your judgments.
The final and title track of this hard-hitting EP continues to follow the theme of independence over opinion. With consistently powerful vocals and dramatic music, “Arena” switches up who the message is for, with a message to the comment critics with pieces of wisdom like “it takes no talent to post the comment” and “when can I see ya jump into the arena”. A solid end to a solid collection of songs, incredibly powerful stuff, and well worth the listen.”
LISTEN NOW.
Review by ::
Wayne Moots
Co-Organizer & Staff Writer
Manor Records gives 100% of article author rights to Wayne Moots.