With its electronic, mesmerizing sound, Jaxyn Lethe’s Slipper Lady leaves you in a musical trance you’ll never want to escape.
Teenage angst doesn’t magically dissipate at 20 years old, and Jaxyn Lethe perfectly encapsulates this with her debut album, Slipper Lady. The Baltimore native attends Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she practices her craft and experiments with different sounds. Her first EP, I am I don’t know, takes a more abstract approach to the song structure with eccentric sounds, such as the beat on “So Much Fun.” Lethe’s trance-electronic record feels like an evolved version of I am I don’t know, which explores yearning, heartbreak, and sensuality.
The title track “Slipper Lady” begins the record with a slow, electronic beat that gains momentum throughout the song. Lethe sings about unrequited love for someone everyone adores, and with the song’s upbeat tone, nonreciprocal admiration has never been so enjoyable. The depth of her emotion can be felt as she repeats, “Everybody loves you/ they don’t love you like I do.” The synth-heavy beat blends with the longing lyrics, creating a song full of texture, tone, and mood. She wants to give this person love that they couldn’t find from anyone else. “Slipper Lady” depicts a love that isn’t transactional or status-based: it revolves around serendipity and passion.
Lethe isn’t afraid to be vulnerable, which is clear on the opening track and continues throughout the album. She knows who and what she wants, even if it seems out of reach, creating a sense of longing that feels personal and universal. Her candidness sets the tone for the album, inviting listeners to be honest with themselves.
The next two tracks, “Let’s fuck” and “One night,” depict a more confident, promiscuous side of Lethe with lyrics like, “Feel me up and take it off/Morning light and I’ll be gone,” which unapologetically embrace physical desire without the constraints of emotional attachment. The song’s energy mirrors the magnetic pull of locking eyes with someone at a party and immediately wanting them. You can nearly hear Lethe’s smirk with her seductive, yet playful, lyrics. The production on these tracks emulates this spontaneity, blending upbeat rhythms and sultry tones that build a mood as intoxicating as the scenarios she describes. Whether love or infatuation, fleeting emotions deserve to be investigated, even in one night.
A consistent theme throughout Slipper Lady is that Lethe speaks her mind and doesn’t waste time. On “Full Time Lover” and “Please Don’t Play It Cool,” relatability seeps through the tracks as she denounces the nonchalant attitude toward intimacy. Acting aloof toward someone who endlessly crosses your mind won’t get you anywhere. However, mustering up the courage to speak to that person and confess your love may get you somewhere. In a world where vulnerability is often masked by nonchalance, these songs act as an anthem for embracing emotional honesty. Lethe essentially puts listeners in a trance with the alluring sound of these two tracks. “Full Time Lover” begins with Lethe softly and sensually declaring her love. Her vocals complement the psychedelic melody. “Please Don’t Play It Cool” is one of the most vulnerable songs on the album, and its beat amplifies that. The percussion blends with the computerized tune. Sitting in the middle of the tracklist, these songs provide like no other.
The nine-track album ends with “Bottles,” a song that takes you down from the high of desire and spits you back into reality. Lethe’s frisky attitude is replaced with a stark bluntness. Her vocals on this track provide a euphoric descent as the party concludes. It’s time to face the reality you’ve swept under the rug. Lethe captures emotions that can be experienced within a day or a lifetime. Her unique sound encapsulates her personality, giving an authentic sound that can’t be replicated.