Written by Aaron Wilder. Header courtesy of Danielle Johnson (@dani_design4).
In her debut album, released Jan. 17, 2025, singer-songwriter Victoria Canal tells a personal, yet wholly relatable, story of a journey from loneliness to finding comfort and self-acceptance. It’s a story that moves from feelings of sorrow, self-hatred, to a beautifully bittersweet end that shows healing is possible, but not without effort.
It begins with “June Baby.” Piano and soft drum and bass focus carry a sweet tune that supports the romantic remembrance that is the song’s focus. It also betrays the ultimate melancholy as the line “I am fallin’ apart,” repeats. This feeling grows in “Talk.” With lyrics such as: “I crave you/I know what you’re gonna say.” This song acts as a bridge to the most intense track on the album, “California Sober.” Shaking guitar strums rise to a vibrating bass rhythm—which is supported by Spanish-speaking back vocals—that intensifies the lustful wanting the lyrics present. It also hints at the descent to come.
A plucking guitar and heart-mimicking beat heighten the carnal intimacy that’s focused on here. A focus that almost becomes oppressive with lyrics such as, “Savor it, bathe in it/For as long as you can take it.” This is then reflected into a desire for depersonalization when “Cake” starts. Hard drums and electronic backing support Canal’s breathy vocals as she desires to “taste that beautiful nothing.” This numbing, though, cannot go on forever and what comes after can hurt even more, which the next track builds on.
Heavy bass and reverb in “How Can I Be A Person” give a dream-like sadness that reflect the self-consciousness and unhealthy act of comparison presented. The words “As hard as I try, I’m not you,” tear at the heart with the closeness Canal puts between her voice and the mic. And it all comes to a head in “Hollow.” With soft piano, sadness is full front and seems all-encompassing. But as it swells and is joined by intense cello, an underlying hopefulness presents itself, which soon grows to dominate as the album and its story reaches conclusion.
“Barely,” using a comforting melody and a familiar reverb, showcases a recognition that she is not alone in her feelings. She is moving out from the nightmare of the isolating thoughts that came before. This hopefulness doesn’t turn into vapid pop, however. “Black Swan” has Canal backing herself with humming and self-harmonies, which support her growing comfortability with herself—that still holds some dissonance. “Swan Song” carries these elements over, but also allows for moments of solo piano playing—which is almost wistful. This gives the listener time to absorb the message Canal speaks to, that healing takes effort. And effort is clear in the work here, as Canal sings with a small, but noticeable and delightful rasp.
This track—and album in general—reflects those emotions and ultimate challenges that we all, in some way, face within ourselves. With such a powerful first album, it could be one tough to top. But I absolutely have no doubt that when Canal comes out with another, it will be just as well-crafted. And just as universally touching.
