On May 7th, Dodie’s debut album, Build A Problem, made its grand debut for the whole world to hear. As someone who has been listening to Dodie for years and religiously watching her Youtube videos... I was ecstatic about this release. For 10 years, she’s been in the public eye on Youtube sharing pieces of her life. Uploading vlogs, song covers with her mates, and even songs she wrote herself. Without fear, she’s shared the deepest parts of herself. She’s created a safe space for all of her fans to look inward and find themselves. A safe space to be open about mental health, sexuality, and self-acceptance. Her two EPs, Intertwined (2016) and You (2017) were my introductions to her, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Her music has surely evolved over the past couple of years. Dodie has such a distinct sound that transcends time itself. She’s an extraordinary writer whose words come from the inner depths of her heart, mind, and soul. Her vulnerability seeping through every lyric and humming melody.
Build A Problem is a record that tells a story of love, lust, heartache, loss, remorse, and yearning. When I listened to it for the first time, I was astounded. This album is Dodie Clark in her most raw and unfiltered state. We’re given a glimpse into the mind of the songstress herself, and we’re being shown her point of view. I have to rave about 7 songs, in particular, that caught my undivided attention. What makes Build A Problem even more magnificent are the cinematic lyric videos. Each video gives the listener a deeper understanding of what Dodie is conveying through each track.
SOME OF MY FAVORITES
AIR SO SWEET:
“I run barefoot, shoes at the door
The air so sweet, I gulp and gasp for more
A night so still, I dance, I soar
Oh, this is what I'm living for.”
“Air So Sweet” is a song that was initially released on her Youtube channel back in 2018. After a session she had with singer, Jacob Collier, she felt on top of the world. She ran down the road to visit a friend of hers. At the moment, she felt grounded and alive.
In her video, “Air So Sweet” (demo), she described the feeling she had in that very moment in time, “It was cold and it was misty and I was just laughing to myself running down the road.” When she uploaded “Air So Sweet” as merely a demo, she talked about how she felt it was “undone.” 3 years later, the once “unfinished” song is now “complete.” “Air So Sweet” is beautifully produced and adds a sense of warmth to the record. That’s the wonderful part about having songs on the shelf, you can always come back to them down the road. If somethings meant to be, you’ll always find your way back to it. I believe it was always destined to being the first track on the album.
In the first lyric video, she eagerly hops into the car. You could feel the excitement beaming from her face. She had a twinkle in her eye that shined with expectancy. Expectancy for the day ahead of her. Just from the video, you can get the impression that she had high hopes. A glimmer of hope.
SPECIAL GIRL:
“Sweet, sweet irony
Could not care less if you love me
But hate me first, yeah make me work; that's perfect
Baby, I'm a funny thing
I'm walking if it doesn't sting
Heartbreak only means that it was worth it
Oh, I think I was doomed before I began
Mmm sorry, I just know the way that I am”
In “Special Girl”, Dodie sings of accepting herself for who she is. Inside and out.
Dodie isn’t pretending to be the kind of person who has it all together, and has “life all figured out.” On the contrary, she’s saying “here are my flaws, and here are the things that make me human.” The playfulness of the song makes me want to dance around and embrace my own imperfections. The video bursts with color and has a wildly youthful disposition.
RAINBOW:
“Rainbow” is a song written about the shame that people often endure within the LGBTQ+ community. Dodie herself has experienced firsthand what it’s like to be told that her feelings aren’t valid. In Rainbow, Dodie reminds her listeners that there’s nothing wrong with loving who you desire to love. Accepting yourself for who you are and embracing your sexuality is beautiful. At the beginning of the lyric video, Dodie’s sitting in the backseat facing away from the window as she begins to sing,
“I was brought up in a line
But I seem to walk in circles
When every map was never made for me
And I thought it would feel good
To understand why I was different
But my title just talks over me
I never even asked to be this way.”
A minute into the song, she slides over to the other window and begins to stare out into the night sky. As she began to sing the chorus, the dark night began to illuminate with bright colors. All the colors of the rainbow glistened upon her skin. As the strings began to build up, I felt a lump in my throat. Rainbow is such a meaningful and touching track, and it’s one of my all-time favorites from the album.
“But to say that I'm a rainbow
To tell me that I'm bright
When I'm so used to feeling wrong
Well, it makes me feel alright”
Both interludes (? and .): These two tracks make the hairs on my arms raise and send shivers all throughout my body. “?” is an eerie minute-long track that leads into the following, “Four Tequilas Down”. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, I am enthralled by Dodie’s harmonies. There’s just something about how she hums that I’ll never get tired of. There are layers upon layers of humming with this song. It’s hypnotizing to hear those sounds, and how they just flow seamlessly into one another.
“.” carries a heavier presence. Right after Four Tequilas Down, we are introduced to another minute-long interlude. Instead of humming, we are greeted with a hauntingly beautiful string composition. Dodie arranged this herself, and I remember watching her video in the studio with her 13-piece string section. She was in her element, and the passion in the room was palpable. Dodie has expressed how she has always desired to have strings in her music. One moment in particular that I find myself replaying time and time again is at “0:47.” Every time without fail, I find myself scrunching up my face and grasping the sounds emitting from the strings.
“.” doesn’t require any lyrics. The message that comes from the instrumental speaks for itself. An exquisite work of art.
Sorry:
“And oh, didn't want to believe such a monster in me
And I know, I've always known, in the end, I'd be sorry
And that's all I am now, and it's all I can be
Is sorry.”
In “Sorry”, Dodie shows deep remorse. It’s a song that reminds you of how detrimental “heat of the moment” conversations and actions are. When you are in the midst of conflict and tensions are high, sometimes words are said that can never be taken back. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations we shouldn’t have been involved in. When it’s all said and done, you cannot undo the past. The lyric video captures a tearful Dodie in the backseat of a car, with every moment going into reverse. I could tangibly feel the ache in Dodie’s voice, and seeing the pain in her eyes felt like a dagger to the heart. The echoing layered vocals intertwining with the strings added to the overall somber sound and led us right into “When”.
When:
“Am I the only one
Wishing life away?
Never caught up in the moment
Busy begging the past to stay
Mеmories painted with much brighter ink
Thеy tell me I loved, teach me how to think.”
The moment I noticed that this song was on her debut album, I audibly gasped. For those who are unaware, this song was released in 2016. “When” originally was on her first EP, Intertwined. It’s a song about yearning deeply for the past, and having to come to terms with life's inevitable changes. This beautifully remastered version of When exceeded every single one of my expectations. Just when I thought the 2016 version made my heartache... The 2021 version shattered my heart into a million pieces. In the lyric video, you see a close-up of Dodie's side profile. Behind her, there is a montage of memories playing on a big screen. You get to see bits and pieces of Dodie's life play back to back. One moment she's a little girl getting her face painted. The next she’s in a dance recital or frolicking on a playground. When encapsulates the feeling of longing for something that is no longer within tangible reach. Whether that’s mourning over a loss of innocence, old friendships, family members who aren’t around anymore, or a place you’ve once called home. When causes you to go down memory lane, and sucker punches with strong hits of nostalgia. For many years, my favorite part has always been near the end when the refrain meets the lovely strings. How Dodie's harmonies and the strings beautifully interweave together. It causes me to close my eyes, and reflect on my own life. I begin to see thousands of memories flash by at hyperspeed. I’ll be transparent and say I’ve spent many nights crying to this song in the past. Dodie has always been an artist who has gotten me through many trials and tribulations. In many ways, her vulnerability and resilience have inspired me and kept me running towards my dreams. (cliche and sappy I know but it’s true.)
Build A Problem is Dodie Clark's first album, but I know for a fact it will not be her last. Every single moment of the record felt honest and real. With every listen, I find new things to love about the production and the lyrics. There are many layers within this album that are just dying to be discovered. I recommend this album to every single soul and I will shout it from the rooftops if I have to. If you are unfamiliar with Dodie’s discography, now’s the perfect time to dive right in. Watch all of the lyric videos, dissect the lyrics and allow Dodie to tell her story to you. It’s worth it. 1000000% worth it. This is only the beginning for Dodie. This is the first of many albums to come, and I’m eagerly awaiting to see what’s next.
Congratulations on a splendid record, Dodie.
10/10