Kaleidoscopic R&B songstress Bell’s Roar finally released her debut album We Carry Us back in January, and the 10-track composition is perfect for hazy July nights. “This is my debut full-length album and it’s the beginning of how I see myself functioning in the music industry,” Bell — real name Sean Desiree — said in a statement. “I want to use my music as a direct action to support other QTPOC (Queer Trans People of Color) artists… I want to use my concerts as a platform to rally to the community and create a new model for how we can sustain ourselves.” The project is vast in its experimentation, combining empowered lyrics with vibrant soundscapes. “Celebrate all you do, go beyond what comforts you,” Bell sings on the lush “Celebrate.” The album shifts between foggy electronic samples and soulful choruses. “We will not be silenced,” Bell coo’s in the background of “Defiance,” instruments swelling around her and inevitably swallowing her in the track’s final, glitchy moments. While Sean Desiree is certainly a leader and an activist, the singer seems to understand the gravity of the fight she’s consumed by, constantly pushing back against a loud, disorienting backdrop. “There’s reasons why I slowly built this wall, becoming clear,” Desiree sings. “It’s not for nowhere, it’s hard to hear, but this is worth the fight.” You can hear the full album below. – Mackenzie Cummings-Grady
