After years of delivering delicious indie pop, Lemonade Baby is finally ready to unleash his debut album ‘Stars Stars Stars’. If you’ve been following Lemonade Baby for quite some time, you’ll already know just how talented he is. You would’ve no doubt bopped along to his last EP ‘Xtra Pop’, has his collaborative single with The Kaleidoscopes ‘T-Shirt’ stuck in your head for days, and devoured every single he dropped last year to tease this incredible album.
Now, we have 10 amazing songs to ingest to not only remind us all why we fell in love with Lemonade Baby’s music in the first place, but how much he’s developed his craft.
The album opens with ‘Airbnb’, a single that is so easy to listen to it goes down just like a cool drink on a scorching hot day. The solid beat keeps the pace steady as the bassline elevates the high vocals and honestly, really shines within the melody. The production on ‘Airbnb’ is simple, but so effective. With not too much going on, every element gets a chance to make an impact. The bright tones bring a summery element to the melody and the rounded synths feel full and warming – it’s honestly a great summer song.
‘Seeing Double’ has a higher energy than ‘Airbnb’ and a lot of that is due to the track’s gritty bassline. Guitar licks add texture to the production and enhances the subtle toughness within the melody. The vocals provided by both Lemonade Baby and Ronnie Sinclair are soft and light, juxtaposing the harder elements of the track, and showing just how many interesting details there are on ‘Seeing Double’. You hear something new every time you listen to this track, proving it’s more intricate and layered than you think.
Then we go from layered, to insanely danceable. ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah (Lifestyle)’ has an infectious groove, with light percussion that sparkles as it cuts through the vibey bassline and brightens up Lemonade Baby’s vocal more than usual. The warped synths that swirl in and out of the melody feel like a burst of sunshine, warming you up every time it appears. In all honesty, ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah (Lifestyle)’ is a track that’ll keep playing in your head long after you hear it, not just because it’s infectious, but because it embodies the joyful feeling of doing what excites you and being with the people you love in your favourite place.
With all these initial tracks being quintessentially Lemonade Baby, ‘Stars Stars Stars’ definitely showcases his talent for crafting catchy pop and bright RnB. Now though, the album starts to explore a new side to Lemonade Baby and delve into tracks that lean heavily into experimentation and the genres that inspire him. Wavy synths and a solid beat open ‘Everyday’ and moves in a more dance-heavy direction. The high hats add a sharpness to the smooth, refreshing synths and the melody washes over you like an evening breeze. The track flows so well and although there are recognisable pieces of Lemonade Baby’s classic production in there, ‘Everyday’ does introduce those heavier synths and smacking samples that take you closer towards the heavy house influences on ‘Slaaay’.
‘Slaaay’ does exactly what it says on the tin – it truly slays. From the very first note, you know this track has strong 90’s dance energy and the house tones paired with the echoing samples, snappy percussion, and warped vocals, work together to create an impeccable melody that’s so groovy and nostalgic. It’s honestly not something you hear much from Australian artists, this genre is definitely more common in the UK, but it gives you a glimpse into the genres that have inspired Lemonade Baby and the kind of production he’s willing to explore.
Opening with muted synths and twangy guitars, you don’t really know what you’re getting into on ‘After Thought’ until all of a sudden, you’re transported somewhere reminiscent of late 90s and early 2000s indie pop. The chopped production, hard drums, and melodic vocals from Monets Pond, TJTM, and of course, Lemonade Baby, really make you feel like you’re moving through a blurred cityscape, trying to make sense of the world around you. There’s a lot of movement on this track, and while there’s a lot happening, the momentum doesn’t make you feel lost or confused. It actually allows you to fall right into the track and take you along for the ride.
The early 2000s influence carries over to ‘Talk’, by far the dreamiest track on ‘Stars Stars Stars’. Of Lion’s vocals are so ethereal and the deep humming synths that rumble beneath the melody give the track so much depth. Sift atmospherics float alongside twinkling tones before the drums propel the production forward like a car on an empty highway – hauntingly fast, but so cinematic and sweet. Buzzing synths scatter themselves amongst the percussion and everything comes together so beautifully, making ‘Talk’ so alluring.
‘Jumping Off The Wall’ is also quite cinematic, and flows on really well from ‘Talk’. There’s momentum and swift movement on this track as well, but this feels more like running with purpose rather than a midnight drive. Heavily digitised synths open the track, and you instantly get the impression that the production is going to be incredibly sharp and intricate. The drums and slapping percussion cuts through Lemonade Baby’s warped vocals, grounding the track instead of letting it fully float into the buzzing atmospherics, and nostalgic samples. There’s so much to love on ‘Jumping Off The Wall’ and it really drives home the late 90s and early 2000s vibe that Lemonade Baby has been leaning into at this point of the album.
If you want a catchy track, a real earworm, you listen to ‘Jupiter’. Deep piano tones float amongst cooling atmospherics and light percussion, making the melody feel very spacious, which is fitting considering the track’s title. Lemonade Baby’s vocals are smooth and blend seamlessly into everything. It’s like every element has melted into this impeccably sweet and delicious treat of a track. The electronic elements add a bit of extra spice to the mixture, but ‘Jupiter’ is really like a lovely slice of soulful pop that you don’t want to stop ingesting.
Finally, if you’ve been a fan of Lemonade Baby for quite a while, you’ll already know just how great his track ‘I’m Spinnin A Record’ is. For some, it was the first track that made you fall in love with Lemonade Baby’s particular brand of pop, and if you’re one of those people, you’ll be pleased to know that ‘Stars Stars Stars’ ends with an extended mix of this iconic track. Bringing the album full circle, this version of ‘I’m Spinnin A Record’ shows how much Lemonade Baby has developed not just as a producer, but as a lyricist as well. He still has his signature charm, but he continues to expand his craft and learning from other music he comes across to experiment with more astounding melodies that continue to blow us all away.
‘Stars Stars Stars’ isn’t just Lemonade Baby’s debut album, it serves as a record of his experimentation and willingness to try new things as the album not only celebrates the RnB pop he’s become known for, but also showcases the genres he’s inspired by, the production techniques he’s exploring, and the unique artists he likes to collaborate with. ‘Stars Stars Stars’ proves that Lemonade Baby isn’t afraid to try something new and that’s going to truly take him so far. Lemonade Baby is a star and this album proves it.