During the winter, in a time scarce of motivation, energy, and will, I tend to gravitate toward R&B, rap, and hip hop more than usual. With lyrics that I don’t have time to learn, fast-paced beats, and albums full of somewhat similar-sounding songs, the genres energize me while also not forcing me to focus intently on the lyrics, unlike the harrowing nature of the sad ballads that I often choose to play.
SZA’s music, on the other hand, has more of a pop influence, resulting in catchy songs that I listen to year-round. Her album SOS, which came out a little over two years ago, was SZA’s latest release until Dec. 20, 2024, when she dropped SOS Deluxe: LANA, an addition to SOS titled with a shortening of SZA’s real name, Solana.
The deluxe edition has 14 new songs, which is certainly enough to be its own album, but the flow and production of the songs are very reminiscent of SOS, so it makes sense that she would keep the SOS era going with these tracks.
“What Do I Do”
After listening to the 42-minute playlist I created with all of the brand-new songs from the deluxe album, this song stood out to me, even though it was only the second track I listened to. This still rings true, with this track being my favorite of the album. The song’s production is inventive; it begins with a phone ringing and a “Hello?” which relates to the lyrics about an accidental phone call. The song is repetitive, especially since it includes a refrain following each chorus and the bridge.
“30 For 30 (Ft. Kendrick Lamar)”
I am never disappointed when SZA and Kendrick Lamar collaborate; my favorites being the track “Doves in the Wind (feat. Kendrick Lamar)” and “luther (with SZA)” off of SZA’s album Ctrl and Lamar’s recent album GNX, respectively. So to speak, I was ecstatic to see his name on a new track. This song didn’t beat out my established favorites of their collaborations or the other tracks on this album, but I still love it. Their voices work together and flow perfectly, curating a very chill vibe.
“BMF”
I liked this song initially because it was more upbeat than most of the other tracks, and it had a very summery feel, production-wise. It sounds like driving down a road lined with palm trees. Still, I briefly forgot about it in the blur of the holidays and a preference for non-summer songs as the snow fell. Then, the chorus became a TikTok audio, and I remembered that this track was too good to wait for the weather to catch up. My seasonal depression feels a little lighter and a little less intense with this song playing through my headphones.
“Drive”
I love to drive, and I also love this song. SZA takes the scenic route with this song: it’s slower-paced, and the production is calming and wistful. Lyrics like “I been up ‘til sunrise, headed to nowhere / Hopin’ that someone’s missin’ me somewhere” set the forlorn tone of the track, and the song overall sounds a lot like it could be by Frank Ocean, which I could never complain about.
These songs have been stuck in my head ever since they came out. The perfect balance of pensive and energetic, SOS Deluxe: LANA resumes the easy nature of the SOS era.
