“Paint My Bedroom Black” - Holly Humberstone Album Review

Holly Humberstone, a 23-year-old English singer-songwriter, released her debut album, “Paint My Bedroom Black,” on Oct. 13.

Humberstone skates on the line of alternative/indie and pop music genres which is present in her first album called “Can You Afford To Lose Me?” released less than a year ago.

“Paint My Bedroom Black” articulates themes of young romance and heartbreak with lyrics reflecting relatable experiences for listeners, a typical trait in Humberstone’s discography.

However, this album explores unconventional sounds and tempos, without straying too far from her consistency. With the subtle experimentation, Humberstone appears to be finding her footing as an artist in the music industry.

Opening with “Paint My Bedroom Black,” the album’s namesake, flawlessly sets the tone. The song illustrates a whirlwind of emotions after a separation from someone.

Humberstone paints a picture of someone trying everything to get another person out of their mind with the words “I'm gonna drown you out tonight/I'm gonna board my windows shut/I'm gonna tear my posters up.” It truly lays a foundation of coherency.

Even when Humberstone adds an unexpected artist to a song, she does not disrupt the harmony of the tracks. “Superbloodmoon” with d4vd contributes a pleasant break in the album. The most notable part of this feature is the guitar; it contrasts nicely with the soft atmosphere of the other tracks.

Fans of Humberstone might be surprised by this addition of another artist on a track, as she has not been one to collaborate with other musicians in the past.

Listeners can understand why this is the only track with another artist represented on the album. The complementary combination of Humberstone’s delicate voice and the richness of d4vd’s voice gives this feature a distinct purpose.

“Room Service” showcases Humberstone’s singing solo. Her clear and graceful voice gains prominence in the song with simple instrumentals in the background.

Humberstone’s singing voice could carry the entire album if not for the exceptional lyricism and instrumentation.

No stone unturned, Humberstone also delves into the perspectives of romantic relationships. In “Antichrist,” she battles being responsible for a connection going downhill.

Regretful lyrics “I made a real mess of this, honey / So you should run for your life / I gave you bad love,” produce a different point of view of being the one who hurt another. Humberstone sings this with a passionate, more raspy voice.

This tacks on another track on the album veering in a unique yet effective direction.

“Paint My Bedroom Black” rates only a 9/10 because of the songs that lack the aberrance the rest of the album’s tracks possess.

Humberstone has established herself as an artist bound for success, as she remains true to her style while creating music outside of the box in this album.

Any person looking for another up-and-coming artist within the alternative/indie genre is recommended to listen to “Paint My Bedroom Black.” It is a phenomenal representation of rising success amongst other musicians.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Into Your Room,” “Kissing In Swimming Pools,” “Ghost Me”

Reviewer’s Least Favorite Songs: “Baby Blues,” “Girl”

Cassie Baylis is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ceb6085@psu.edu.