Love can be a complicated story told with many twists, failures, realizations, and comebacks that make or break an individual. In its complexity, however, there is always a beauty to the feeling of holding love for yourself and staying true to your heart in trying times. The Red Betty’s Icehouse has taken this emotion and its rises and declines and creates a picturesque scene that shows how love can hurt you and longing can sting, but finding self-love is key to uplifting yourself. The tracks on this album tell a story of the complexities of love through the eyes of The Red Betty and pull on the heart strings of those who carefully listen.
The opening track titled “Six Feet Under Love” lays down the foundation of the emotional and heartfelt album through a somber story of eternal longing and loving. The Red Betty sings her story of a lover who has multiple instances of turmoil with her, speaking about fights and heartbreak caused by the lover, but that these issues can’t shake off the love she has. The track replicates the warm feeling love can make you feel yet still holds space for the sorrow felt when that love persists even when the lover hurts you and leaves, showcasing passion and yearning alongside calming folk instruments that set the mood.
A part of love that’s crucial to the story of Icehouse is the acceptance of ending love towards those who wrong you and focusing on self-love. The Red Betty presents this realization through the story in her song “Sinners & Believers”, in which she narrates about a lover who consistently lies and manipulates her, but she’s leaving that in the past for her own good. Through a feel-good Americana composition, the track blossoms as a feeling of freedom from corrupt love and a newfound love for oneself. This same message is conveyed “House Of A Broken Heart”, a traditional folk track reflecting on the lows of complex love and the highs of self-love. In a somber tone, The Red Betty uses this piece to call out the issues of a past lover and the pains felt due to the strong love she had, but she still brings inspiration by saying to “always take control of your fate” and “find your peace of mind” through loving yourself and doing what is best for you.
Of course, you can’t have an Americana album without some upbeat electric guitar and drums to get you stomping and clapping. Icehouse contains a powerful feeling and message in “Raise’em Glasses”. The track’s upbeat rhythm filled with a country orchestra creates a vibrant, positive atmosphere alongside a message of inspiration for loving yourself and not letting anyone drag you down and hurt you. This burst of joy brings a new face to the album, changing the relatively calm and occasionally somber feel of most tracks and bringing a refreshing light for the listener’s pleasure in an uplifting bloom.
In a strong closing remark that ties the album back towards all love, the track “The Love I Needed” brings a brief story of newfound love at its initial stage. The Red Betty uses soft fingerstyle guitar alongside tranquil background instruments and smooth vocals to sing about a healthy love beginning to grow. The track highlights the complexities that come with strong feelings for another, with fears from the way previous betrayal and heartbreak leave lingering scars that haunt one forever. Regardless, she still proclaims this new love in a beautiful manner, simply asking to not be hurt once more, showcasing love’s fragile beauty.
In a powerful reflection of her emotions, The Red Betty has given us an album filled with the tender passion of love, the tragedy of heartbreak, and the charm of having love for oneself. Using heavy Americana and Folk-Country components alongside soft vocals and airy atmospheres, each track on Icehouse is able to present its version of love and come together to portray the message that, even when love for another turns sour, the sweetest love is always present within and can grow towards loving another once more, sharing the sweetness around.
Written by Samuel Mujica