''Wake Up!'' (stylized as ''Wake UP!'') is the debut studio album by Australian-American indie pop musician

Hazel English Hazel English (born Eleisha Caripis) is an Australian indie pop musician based in Oakland, California. She fronts a band of the same name. Early life and career Before creating music, English devoted her time to studying creative writing in Melbo ...

released on April 24, 2020. The album is produced by

Justin Raisen Justin Louis Raisen is an American record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and mixing engineer. His early credits include Charli XCX, Theophilus London and Sky Ferreira. He produced and co-wrote Kim Gordon’s (Sonic Youth) album ...

and Ben H. Allen.

Background and recording

On May 12, 2017, English released her first EP ''Just Give In/Never Going Home''. In 2018, she started working on her debut album. In an interview on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and Contemporary hit radio, current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including ...

's Indie Show with Jack Saunders, English said that the album idea came from her passiveness in everyday life and the need of changing it, of doing the things that she wanted to do and move on with life. The album title is a literal reference from waking up from sleep and a mindfulness feeling to life. Produced with the help of Justin Raisen and Ben H. Allen, according to Polyvinyl Records the album is a "bigger, lusher, and more live-sounding" album from her discography.

Singles

On November 6, 2019, the first single from the album was released. "Shaking" was described by ''

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'' as "'60s psychedelia". The song was co-written with Blake Stranathan and produced by Justin Raisen. The music video for the single was directed by Erin S. Murray. On January 29, 2020, she released the second single "Off My Mind". According to English, the song is "about feeling stuck in a situation but too afraid to make a move. It's about the limbo state between where you are and where you want to be."

Critical reception

''Wake Up!'' received generally positive reviews from music critics. On the review aggregate website

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

, ''Wake Up!'' received a score of 73, based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 6.8 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

critic Marcy Donelson called the album "a more vibrant, polished affair than her nglish'sEPs" and stated that it is an "album that aims to please and largely succeeds." Writing for '' Clash'', Rae Niwa wrote that English, on the album, "pivots for a musical array of expanded soundscapes that articulate a dynamic evolution of her music". She further praised the album for its "elevated energy" and English's way of expanding her "work", thus comparing it to previous releases from the artist. Niwa ended her review by stating that "Hazel English has delved into a sophistication that dynamically blends her previous music to create an oscillation of hard and soft that exudes in her tonality." Alisha Mughal of ''

Exclaim! ''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly ''Exclaim!'' print magazine publishes seven ...

'' acclaimed the album, stating that each track on the record "is unique and will sweetly burrow itself into your mind, and this is due to English's deftness with hooks and melodies." Mughal also praised English's vocals and stated that the album is the "perfect soundtrack to the next few months that may feel like an eternity under

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." Hayley Milross, reviewer for ''

The Line of Best Fit ''The Line of Best Fit'' is an independent online magazine based in London, concentrating on new music. It publishes independent music reviews, features, interview, and media. Founded by Richard Thane in February 2007 and currently edited by P ...

'', wrote that "whilst English's smooth tone and poetic songwriting paints a dreamy soundscape, what English delivers here primarily, is concise honesty. Rather than washing over fantasised ideals, she tells us exactly how it is, how it makes her feel and what she wants to do in order to gain her power back." Elisa Bray of ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' wrote that "''Wake Up!'' may tackle weighty themes of capitalism and power struggles in relationships, but the woozy ambience of its shoegaze and Sixties-inspired pop is not exactly going to propel you into an invigorating new way of life ..This graceful debut is led by a voice so sweetly soothing and expressive that it recalls both

Lana del Rey Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (born June 21, 1985), known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. Lana Del Rey discography, Her music is noted for its melancholic exploration of Glamour (presentation), glamor and Romanc ...

and

Hope Sandoval Hope Sandoval (born June 24, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, and the lead singer of Mazzy Star and Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions. She has also toured and collaborated with other artists, including the Jesus and Mary Chain and Ma ...

Track listing

Personnel

– vocals Production *

* Ben H. Allen Engineering * Anthony Paul Lopez - Recording and mixing engineer * Ben Etter - Recording and mixing engineer *

Heba Kadry Heba Kadry is an Egyptian mastering engineer who currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. She is best known for her work with Björk, Beach House, Slowdive, The Mars Volta, Neon Indian, Wooden Shjips, Lightning Bolt, White Hills, Alex G, Futur ...

- Mastering engineer *

Ainjel Emme Ainjel Emme (born September 28, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and recording engineer. She has worked with artists such as David Bowie, Aly & AJ, Kristeen Young, Cherry Glazerr, Hazel English and Nasty Cherry. Care ...

- Additional engineering

References