Doechii’s vulnerability portrayed in her new single “Anxiety” distinguishes the track from her usual vibrant bravado and infectious energy. Such emancipation from her signature rap aesthetic reflects her versatility as an artist carving a unique pathway in the music industry.
Originally recorded in her bedroom in 2019, the song’s deeply introspective and
intimate narrative moves beyond symbolism and offers instead the raw impression of a diary entry. The featured sample loop of Gotye’s “Somebody I used to know”
serves as an innovative parallel to the empowerment of confronting anxiety, illustrated on the cover art – where she stands back to back with another version of herself, intrinsically connected yet distinct. Intertwined with the track’s repetitive rhythm, the loop of breathing sounds layered on top creates a sound that is simultaneously relieving and claustrophobic, culminating in a sense of catharsis.
The free-flowing form and fluctuation between sung melodies and spoken word give an auditory representation of the turbulence characteristic of anxiety. Towards the end of the track, Doechii intensifies this effect by layering these elements on top of each other, creating a tense confrontation with the persistent, underlying instability. In an era of standardisation and creative homogenisation in popular music, “Anxiety” stands out as authentic and deeply emotional.
Image Credit: “Doechii performs at the Grammy Museum (Dec 2024; 3) (cropped)” by the CwE is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
