The music video for “Growth Growth Child (Nation Slide)” by Alicia G opens with a well-recognized scene in her native Buffalo, the power of the monitor already beginning to fill the air round us. A melody fires up, and he or she begins to sing in her trademark voice. “Growth Growth Child (Nation Slide)” is coming alive together with her vocal, her phrases cascading via our stereo like they’ve acquired a mission to succeed in the opposite finish of the universe in mere seconds. Alicia is on one right here, and he or she means enterprise.

The beat is barely implied at this level, however the rhythm is gripping us tightly and inspiring us to enterprise forth within the monitor.   Though there’s a whole lot of glam pressured into the premise of the video, the music appears to drive the emotion right here greater than anything does or might. The tempo of the monitor appears to decelerate for a second, solely to return raging again to life as Alicia ascends towards the second refrain. There’s a whole lot of pressure evolving out of seemingly skinny air within the backdrop, however our focus is all the time on the lyrical emissions as they type earlier than our ears.   “Growth Growth Child (Nation Slide)” doesn’t attempt to smokescreen its narrative with a whole lot of visible frills that may finally come between the viewers and the artist, and whereas it’s removed from probably the most conceptual music video that I’ve seen within the final 12 months, it’s one of many extra targeted and fun-loving.

We’re not overwhelmed with a whole lot of extreme photographs which have little – if something – to do with what the substance of the lyrics is attempting to deal with; as a substitute of watering down her breakout single with an inauthentic pop polish, Alicia G treats us to the actual article. If this participant’s really creative model and contemplative artistry don’t impress you, then frankly I don’t know what would given the state of plasticity in pop music. She’s hitting it proper on the nostril on this efficiency, and the irony she subsequently celebrates might be one among my favourite issues about her new track.  

Whether or not you’re conversant in Alicia G’s work or not, you’re going to need to make a degree of testing “Growth Growth Child (Nation Slide)” when searching for brand spanking new music this July. She exhibits off some actual expertise in each the only and the video, and although she’s nonetheless acquired room to develop into no matter sound she decides to pursue, saying this monitor isn’t a treasure of a pop single can be criminally dismissive of how organically proficient she is. “Growth Growth Child (Nation Slide)” options probably the most intoxicating harmonies of 2023, however way more importantly, it makes a constructive assertion that’s remarkably refreshing amongst all the gloom and doom in fashionable pop music.

I feel we will count on some nice issues out of this younger songwriter, and after you hear this track, I’m certain you’ll agree with me. For many who love pop and nation the identical, there’s one thing right here for all events thought-about.

Mindy McCall