The Melody Mention: Alessia Cara’s Four Pink Walls

The young star with a powerful voice is finally making her mark in the alternative pop world. It was only a couple months ago when I came across a feature in The Fader about newcomer Alessia Cara. I was so inspired by her story that I had to listen to her music for myself. It’s not everyday that you hear a song about a teenager as a total outcast and anti-partygoer, but it’s something about it that is so intriguing. Well, that’s exactly what Alessia Cara accomplished with her first single, “Here.” Being the odd one out and feeling awkward at a party has turned into one of the biggest songs of the summer.

Cara’s debut EP Four Pink Walls was original scheduled to release on August 28, but she was so excited and decided to leak it a few days earlier. The EP features the teen favorite along with four other tracks that show her range between pop and soul influences. Once you hear her voice, it comes to no surprise that she is a fan of artists such as Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, and Lianne La Havas. Besides the hit single, my two other favorites are “Outlaws” and “Four Pink Walls.”

“Outlaws” shows Cara’s appreciation for the swing and doo-wop eras as she sings about being in a Bonnie & Clyde type of relationship. Whereas the title track gives a mix of R&B and pop as she sings about dreaming in her bedroom at a younger age and eventually reaching her dreams.

Not to mention, this girl has some killer covers on YouTube from songs made popular by stars such as Taylor Swift and Drake. As she continues to get co-signs from other artists in the industry, Alessia Cara is proving she here’s for the long haul. Her debut album Know It All is set to release in the fall.