King Princess Spreads Powerful Messages In New Album
King Princess on stage for a concert. Source: Raph_PH, Flickr 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
“Hold On Baby” is an album of self-discovery revealing King Princess’s battle with depression, identity and sexuality. With every track, their raw voice evokes heartbreaking and empowering emotions.
King Princess became a stage name for Mikaela Mullaney Straus in 2018 when they released their hit single “1950.” Now, at the age of 23, King Princess has become one of Gen Z’s most influential queer pop icons.
According to an interview with CBS News, Straus chose their stage name because “it’s a dichotomy.” King Princess identifies as genderqueer and gay, so using the name King Princess validates the complexity of their gender and sexuality.
Before the release of “Hold On Baby,” Straus took to social media to release their manifesto for the album. To start the manifesto, Straus explained that in the past, they had only written about heartbreak. For the first time, the 2022 album doesn’t look to external sources to “justify anxieties and depression.” The album is a reflection of all that represents King Princess.
“I’m not a girl, not quite a boy,” King Princess wrote in their manifesto. “A lesbian, but also gay as the day is long. I’m not one thing. I’m not sure I like myself, but I’m figuring it out.”
“Hold On Baby” was released on July 29 and opens with a track called “I Hate Myself, I Want To Party.” Different from their past releases, the song begins with a solemn and conversational tone. It isn’t until three minutes into the four-minute song that the beat shifts and Straus’ voice intensifies as they sing “I don’t want to live like that, it was never my track.” Using the lyrics to display their struggle with depression, Straus lays out the framework for the rest of the album.
“I want this album to give us all some strength in accepting ourselves as chaotic as we can be,” King Princess wrote in their manifesto. “You are not alone in your feelings. This album is for anyone who needs a sanctuary to be vulnerable. I’m here with you and I love you.”
With 12 tracks on the album, Straus takes listeners on a beautiful journey through her psyche. The fourth track, named “Little Bother,” was co-written with musician Zach Fogarty and features singer Fousheé in the second verse. With a fast stroke on the drums, Straus sings about being a bother to a person who is no longer in their life. The song reflects on the impact of their own actions when Straus says, “Do you feel like you could have tried a little harder; didn’t make me feel good; I was just a little bother.”
The seventh track, “Hold on Baby Interlude,” begins with a light synthesis as Straus enters with a deep voice. The song remains fairly slow throughout as Straus says “I’m a silhouette of mental health; I will figure out my pain.” Then, immediately following the end of track seven, track eight jumps in with a strong guitar and steady drum beat. In this song named “Too Bad,” Straus criticizes herself by saying “Too bad that I’m never enough; but they hate me; oh, that's what I tell myself.”
Before closing out the album, Straus uses track 11, “Sex Shop” to reveal the dichotomy of their gender and sexuality. The song talks about not having a grip on their identity. Shifting to a higher voice, emotions seep through Straus’ voice as she sings the line “But I fear that you won't love me; if there's something in my body wants to change; you're a Princess; you're a King Princess.” The lyrics of this song bring Straus’ stage name full circle as they feel conflicted in their gender identity.
To finish the album, Straus begins speaking with their listeners as Taylor Hawkins plays a smooth beat on the drums. When the chorus hits, the drums erupt and Straus sings “If the only way to love you is to let us die; and drive the car right off the cliff and let us dive.” Straus titled the song “Let Us Die” to address the challenges that occur with being in love. For the song’s ending, Straus’ voice stays intense as they repeat the chorus three times before ending with “And if the only way to love you-.”
The album closes with a cliffhanger because Straus is still finding their identity. King Princess remains unsure of how to define themself and shows the audience that it’s okay to be unsure. While much of the album deals with Straus’ struggles, it also provides fans with a sense of hope and acceptance. With newfound confidence, King Princess used “Hold On Baby” to create space for their emotions and begin the journey to accepting the truest version of themself.