Norwegian singer Marie Ringheim, also known as Girl in Red, has become a staple in alternative pop, especially for the LGBTQ+ community, as a queer icon. She’s most well-known for her melancholic and emotional alternative pop songs like “We Fell in Love in October” and “Serotonin,” which discuss heartbreak, romance, anxiety, and depression.
With this new release of “I’M DOING IT AGAIN BABY,” Ringheim takes a new approach to using uplifting and traditional rock production created by her friend Matias Tellez, with confident and honest lyrics about insecurity and romance compared to her debut studio album, “If I Could Make It Go Quiet.”
The lead singles give listeners a solid introduction to what to expect from this record. “Too Much” is an empowering yet saddening rock anthem about being told you’re extra in a moment where you are most confident, ultimately leading to self-conscious feelings. I’m intrigued by the production as it’s not too overbearingly positive, as you can tell by the disappointing beat drop, but it’s not as depressing as her usual work.
Then we get “Doing It Again Baby,” a testament to the confidence that Ringheim has gained since her first record. She’s at the top of the world and realizes how swaggy and cool she is. The instrumental of this song reminds me of something you’d hear in a K-Mart commercial.
“You Need Me Now?” is the only song with a featured artist, Sabrina Carpenter of “Girl Meets World” fame. The energetic song discusses how a toxic ex-partner comes back into the lives of Ringheim and Carpenter. This person consistently disappointed the singers and always led them into thinking something better would happen, but it never did. “Doing It Again Baby” is an aggressive break-up song that’ll be relatable to a middle school girl whose boyfriend asked another girl to the 8th-grade formal, but I like that aspect. I also think the pendulum reference is a riveting way to put someone reintroducing themselves into your life.
This album is easily more positive in retrospect when we discuss the production choices made by Tellez when creating the record compared to her debut album. Other than the lead singles and a few other choice songs, this album is still somewhat depressing and emotional.
The intro track “I’m Back” has this lullaby-esque instrumentation that is easy on the ears, but the lyrics are far from sleep-inducing. Lyrically, Ringheim talks about how she’s emotionally improved compared to the heartbreak and pain she faced in her last record. The juxtaposition of the metaphors and references in this song makes you believe it’s more down-putting than you may think, but that growth is present.
The other similar song is titled “A Night to Remember,” Ringheim details the excessive night she went through when first meeting her current girlfriend. She recalls in an Apple Music interview the parties they explored, seeing people drink and partake in drug abuse all night, but the key takeaway is this is the first moment she laid her eyes on her true love. I wish the beat drop that led up to the moments of first connection were prominent and more exciting, but I still see the intent. You can easily catch onto the sexual and romantic tension off-rip. It is still an amusing listen.
The rest of the album has the reverse juxtaposition of songs like “I’m Back,” where the production is more cheerful with somber words that share experiences of jealousy, self-doubt, and depression, similar to that of Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. “Phantom Pain” is the best track on the album. I love the comparison of losing someone you care about to phantom pain, meaning bodily aches of a part of your body that no longer is present, most common in amputees. Ringheim goes more in-depth on the opportunity she lost to be with this person and how being led to believe it would work out affects her emotionally.
I also enjoy “Pick Me,” a gloomy ballad about insecurity and jealousy in her relationship. Ringheim dishes out in the Apple Music interview about a guy friend her girlfriend had that she was worried would try to swoop in and take her lady. She adds that she had moments of fabricating her personality to avoid looking awful to her partner. The song is well-sung, and I hear most of the Taylor Swift influences on this track. I want to mention that the instrumental on “Ugly Side” reminds me of the Five Nights at Freddy’s song by The Living Tombstone.
Girl in Red’s latest release catches Ringheim venturing into new sonic domains while maintaining her signature thoughtful lyricism. With Matias Tellez’s production, the album offers a refreshing contrast to her previous work yet retains its emotional depth. From empowering anthems like “Too Much” to introspective tracks like “Phantom Pain,” Ringheim navigates themes of insecurity, romance, and self-discovery with honesty and confidence. While some songs may evoke somber feelings, the album ultimately showcases Ringheim’s growth as an artist and her ability to connect with listeners on a deeply personal level.
