IDKRAEVEN RELEASES EMOTIONALLY EVOCATIVE DEBUT PROJECT ‘NETHERWATER’

Photo provided by TAG Music.

idkraeven represents “emo” as a culmination, indicative of the passage of time. This budding starlet’s debut project ‘NETHERWATER’ insinuates that the once-rigid subgenre has spread its wings, giving room for experimentation, ultimately suggesting a long-lasting success for it as a larger entity. Hilariously, this ep came to me at a rather low emotional point, granting me the space to resonate with idkraeven’s ideas authentically. A lot of her ep chronicles the ups and downs of growing pains—which don’t stop past your early 20s. As a fresh artist, she may be surprised to find out who connects with her music. Her ability to create for internal fulfillment will draw the exact right crowd to her shows. Her powerful vocal ability will draw them to more and more, becoming frequent flyers over time.

“Bleed Out” is a strong opening number. This track introduces the audience to idkraeven’s world, which is dark but optimistic. Her headstrong personality shines through her lyrics, as it is present for anyone who follows her on social media. She is not afraid to bear it all, reminding everyone else that it’s okay to “bleed out” sometimes. This level of vulnerability is indicative of a self-assured person who has taken each blow to the ego as an opportunity to improve from within. Lyrically, “Bleed Out” is one of the strongest tracks in the ep. That is largely indicative of just how deeply it dives into her personal world. It takes a lot of struggle to become so strong-willed. However, I am infinitely inspired by idkraeven; the amount of resilience it takes to push past her personal struggles and the empathy it takes for her to talk about them so openly is absolutely phenomenal. Plus, it does a great job at showcasing her vocal range, which occasionally becomes subdued thanks to the flows she chooses to work with. Though, collaborative efforts from producer Devon Corey asserts her dominance despite being a newbie in the technical sense.

There are some very obvious singles like “luv2much” and “shit,” which we covered as they were released. Though, “soul spillage” is similarly reflective of idkraeven’s strong songwriter capabilities, showcasing an enthusiastic performer. Her passion overtakes everything she touches, rendering her a reliable narrator simply by the delivery of each line. Some artists are “known” for a specific “thing.” I keep referring back to idkraeven’s lyrical ability, so I can’t help but feel as though idkraeven will eventually be known as a storyteller (coming from a writer!). Her ideas greatly outweigh a majority of her potential competition, likely because that’s not her intention. She is singing what she is feeling, and this quality will get her immeasurably far. It’s the same kind of relatability that a young Taylor Swift offered to the industry; fresh and real, yet knowledgable and creatively driven.

“STR8FRMHLL” deviates away from the Lil’ Peep-adjacent subset of emo that idkraeven tends to experiment with. There are hints of it, with guest appearances by NORUE and Goner adding depth to the mix. However, this song is among my favorites in the ep. It feels the most authentically idkraeven’s, like it only could have existed in her brain, with Corey’s production mastery to back her up or elevate her ideas. Collaborative efforts like this often give artists room to explore things they touch on further, curating unforgettable masterpieces by honing in on everyone’s strengths.

Of course, an artist’s debut is hardly ever their true starting point. The moment of “discovery” simply allows them more resources to fully divulge into their creative ideas. For idkraeven, this is provably true; she has been songwriting for years, with social media presence to prove it. The digital footprint is occasionally a helpful tool, and it certainly is in this case. I will happily rebuttal anyone that suggests idkraeven is an industry plant. The phrase seems to be thrown around liberally, often used for creative individuals who simply have a knack for creating resonant art. It’s silly, but I believe idkraeven deserves her accolades, especially because she has clearly put in the work to be in her current-standing position.

‘NETHERWATER’ is an incredibly well-executed sonic exploration of the self. It may be her debut project, but idkraeven already has a solid vision for her work, insinuating that future releases will only become more cohesive over time. This is a fantastic starting point, though. Amazing things happen when artists are granted the tools they need to grow, like a spring seedling peeking out of warm soil. I cannot wait to hear what idkraeven does next….and I love getting “I knew her when” bragging rights.