Nea’s Transparent, an Honest Look to the Nuances of Love and More
Born Anna Linnea Södahl, Nea, a gifted artist from Sweden, has penned multiple songs that have become instant successes for artists such as Zara Larsson, Tinie Tempah, Tove Styrke, and Axwell. Despite her well-established career as a songwriter, she felt the need to tell her own story. Driven by a desire to delve into her own truth, Nea wrote a song called “Some Say” in 2019, which later became an EP that garnered almost a billion streams across all digital streaming platforms. This brought her even more recognition and awards. Now, she is back and ready to tell her story louder than ever with her new album, “Transparent“.
“I had to ask myself the same questions: What is my story, and what do I want to say?” she says.
“Transparent” is a reflection of Nea’s life and vision, featuring nine songs that encompass sounds from pop, rock, and even folk music. To achieve this well-crafted result, Nea worked alongside producer Daniel Ledinsky, who is well-known for collaborating with artists such as Carly Rae Jepsen and Tove Lo. Most of the melodies on the album can easily move your body and instantly put you in a good mood. However, when you listen carefully to her words, Nea speaks with an honesty that is difficult to find, yet so clear and familiar that it feels like she’s speaking for all those moments you didn’t know how to express.
She explains, “I wanted to write this song and lyrics in a way that it feels happy and carefree if you just hear the production and melodies, but if you listen closely to the words there’s another layer to it.“
From moments of romance to friendship, vulnerability to self-empowerment, “Transparent” strikes every chord. When it comes to romance and relationships, Nea deals with both ends of the spectrum. On one side, “Sweet Crash,” a duet with British singer Declan J. Donovan, personifies “two people colliding in the sweetest, hottest, sexiest, loveliest way ever.” This celebration of the illusion of finding the right company is also expressed in “Imagine,” where she sings “I had all this love and nowhere to put it until there was you.” In “YES,” she presents her recently gained optimism and openness thanks to the inspiration that the right person can bring into our lives.
However, Nea acknowledges that love has its highs and lows, and she also explores the concept of disheartening relationships. In the playful and exaggerated tones of “Cold Turkey,” she sings, “You can’t leave me, leave me here to die,” highlighting the effect of jealousy. This discontent is also present in “A Lover Like Me,” where she expresses the difficulty of finding someone who can reciprocate the same level of commitment in a relationship.
But in the final track of the album, “Dance with Myself,” Nea delivers an ode to self-love, regardless of what we may be going through with the rest of the world. She advises, “Turn the music up, and in the mirror, I dance with myself.” This empowering message encourages embracing self-acceptance and finding joy within.
The tracks that evoke a more personal and touching experience in Nea’s album are not necessarily about romance. In “Take it as a Man,” she conveys the pain caused by abuse through a groovy pop production, explaining why she mentioned that there are many songs on this album that are too personal to give away to another artist. Another showcase of her songwriting talent is “Losing a Friend,” a mournful song that explores an often overlooked aspect of love—the ending of a friendship. This song gains even more power when considering the opening track of the album, “Chosen Family,” with lines such as “Don’t take it for granted, and now you should hear it more. So I just wanna say thank you.“
“Transparent” is a testament to Nea’s ability to evoke a wide range of emotions through her songwriting and vibrant melodies. This album offers an immersive experience that you should definitely try, and be prepared to play it more than once as you embark on a journey of love, loss, and self-discovery.