Hana Vu – ‘Romanticism’ album review: an honest review of the perils of youth
THE SKINNY: Growing up is a strange experience. For those in the thick of it, it seems endless, and for those who have overcome the perils of youth, the memory of it is just as hazy and confusing as it felt at the time. Hana Vu has been creating music since she was in high school, gathering years of experience to create an album that delves into the deepest, darkest corners of adolescence.
This is a message Vu delivers from the outset. “I’m sorry about the way I am,” she croons, lamenting becoming a ghost of her previous self while navigating what all of that means. She can no longer breathe because the air in her lungs has changed, causing a certain unavoidable aura of despair to blanket her mind in ways she cannot keep up with.
In your early 20s, everything can seem overwhelming as you grapple with self-identification and the opinions of the whole world. Faced with endless social media doom scrolling, our lives can pale in comparison to others, leaving us feeling in a constant state of fight or flight. Instead of running from it all, Romanticism puts it under the microscope, probing and interrogating until it reveals its long-hidden truths.
Musically, this is an album that isn’t afraid of its own flaws. Romanticism may coast the line between pure indie rock and endearing ‘sad girl’ aesthetics, but its dressing doesn’t matter as much when its confidence comes to the fore, reminding you of the power of honesty in the face of adversity. Romanticism may seem like the preceding album to a magnum opus, but its brilliance is the perfect glimpse into the promising future of a young innovator.
For fans of: enjoying the comfort at rock bottom just for one moment longer.
A concluding comment from an airline pilot: “This feels like the moment you make a great landing. It can be rocky and unnerving, but once your feet touch the ground, you relax, reflect, and embrace the next bloody flight and all the bickering twats aboard.”
Romanticism track by track:
Release Date: May 3rd | Producer: Hana Vu and Jackson Phillips | Label: Ghostly International
‘Look Alive’: The start of an album is arguably one of the most important aspects of the entire project. Despite today’s streaming-inundated world where shuffle play exists, many people still listen to records chronologically, and Romanticism starts off very strongly. ‘Look Alive’ demonstrates the crux of everything Hana Vu is all about: vulnerability and self-reflection. [4/5]
‘Hammer’: This track may seem like a drastic pivot compared to the previous song, but the appeal remains intact as Vu sings about monotony, dreariness, and the search for reconciliation. [4/5]
‘Alone’: Some albums decline in quality as the tracks go by, but Romanticism only gets better, as evidenced by songs like ‘Alone’. This track showcases Vu’s variety when it comes to crafting potential hits, her ability to create hard-hitting slow-burns arriving with just as much strength and confidence as her more fast-paced indie rhythms. [4/5]
’22’: There’s something about turning 22 that feels incredibly profound. For most of us, it’s the first time we really stop to think about who we are and who we want to be. Musically, this track feels exactly like that feeling, leaving a bittersweet taste in your mouth as you experience the strangely endearing prospect of nostalgia. [4/5]
‘Care’: It takes real skill to create songs that are versatile enough to apply to all seasons while remaining good enough to really entice you. ‘Care’ starts off upbeat and endearing before becoming thicker with meaning. [4.5/5]
‘How it Goes’: A lot of growing up involved just seeing how it goes. “I look around to see there’s nothing left,” Vu sings, admitting “I can’t be anywhere but in my head”. Existing inside your own head is a big part of coming of age, and ‘How it Goes’ goes into that trope head-first, leaving you wondering whether anyone is as deep as you are. [3.5/5]
‘Dreams’: Being alive doesn’t always have to feel full-speed ahead. Romanticism could be played as background noise at a coffee shop or out loud in your living room, but its versatility panders to the authenticity of life. One moment, we’re ordering a new jacket, and the next, we could be questioning our existence – but it’s all a part of the fun. As Vu puts it, “it doesn’t hurt to be alive.” [4/5]
‘Find Me Under Wilted Trees’: Layering voices is a difficult venture, but Vu approaches it with ease. Her voice has a certain rawness and authenticity on its own, but the added effect and accompanying arrangements spotlights it in a way that feels even more poignant. [4/5]
‘Airplane’: Being young and dazed feels a lot like how photographs of ink droplets in the water look – pretty but dark and sinister in a way that you can’t put your finger on. ‘Airplane’ is a gorgeous ode to self-discovery, no matter how much it may hurt along the way. [3.5/5]
‘Play’: They say that suffering is the food of art, and ‘Play’ fearlessly approaches life’s most hardest-to-describe musings. The cherry on top of the cake is Vu’s endearing vocal delivery as she drifts over the melody like waves crashing onto the shore. [4/5]
‘I Draw a Heart’: Romanticism generally fades out on a more sombre note, but it works perfectly. ‘I Draw a Heart’ and ‘Love’ deliver the perfect curtain call, reminding you of all the reasons you stuck with the album this long in the first place. [4/5]
‘Love’: ‘Love’ delves into some of our most loved and feared tropes as humans, as Vu navigates the vulnerability of intimacy with someone who knows her possibly better than she knows herself. [4/5]
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.