…From What? marks the full-length debut of Outsideness, a collaboration between Azalias and Freidrich$. Born from a single demo, the record evolved into a bold statement of off-kilter, yearning R&B and dance-pop darkness and color alike. Freidrich$ provides a structural frame that Azalias’ artistry frequently deconstructs, resulting in an affecting, sincere exploration of humanity and love.
“Remedy” opens the album with heartfelt, yearning allure. “I’m feeling sick, you could be my remedy,” Freidrich$’s lead vocals let out, alongside dreamy reflections and a head-nodding rhythmic pulse. Serene synths glide seamlessly alongside Azalias’ vocal presence, assuming lead thereafter with dynamic range — from the ghostly “just a shadow” stirrings to a “moved on already” heightened pace. The interchanging vocal tones and alternating instrumentation, from dreamy R&B to darkwave hints, quickly showcase Outsideness as a project with eclectic tonal capacity. The ensuing “Pretend” continues that addictive, emotive sense, here embracing a dance-friendly synth-pop appeal. Azalias’ more subdued, electronic vocal tones meld with Freidrich$’s more upfront emotion for a gorgeously impactful production, fondly reminiscent of Underscores.
“Crazy” follows as a further display of evolving, climactic song structures. Plucky, vibrant instrumentation and submerged vocals swell into a midpoint with gripping clarity, infusing overlapping vocal anthemics with a pulsating dance-pop energy. Azalias’ vocals are especially mesmerizing in the “paint me a picture” beckoning, balancing lush intrigue and danceable charisma. “Different” arrives next as a lovely comedown, playing as the album’s definitive ballad. Soul-searching lyricism, gliding guitar tones, and caressing vocal layers meld with a memorable blissfulness. “Lovers” is another success in that thematic realm of affection, with “terrified of losing you” vocal vulnerabilities delighting into buzzing synth crunches and snappy, infectious rhythms.
The album’s second half envelops in a variety of twists, especially on “Thank U,” a re-interpretation of the Dido song of the same name — infusing its classic rainy-day laments with a soulful pop tint. Featuring Lil Zay-Zay, “Touch Me” excels as well, maneuvering from glistening guitar hypnotics into a punchy alt-pop midpoint, where expressive vocal layers, throbbing rhythms, and simmering electronics move with replay-inducing fervor. The subsequent “Cold World” asks “is he everything you wanted?” while remarking “I doubt it,” ruminating on past memories as fuel for avoiding further detachment from this “cold world.”
Album finale “Ends” comes next, commencing with Azalias’ chilly, wordless presence and progressing into twinkling keys and haunting “please don’t mess around with me” pleading and an “everything ends” acknowledgement — though also clarifying that an ending does not render past love and emotion obsolete. …From What? is a riveting success from Outsideness, a collaborative project that captivates in infusing dynamic pop, soul, and R&B flair with heartfelt sentiments on love, perseverance, and finality.
