Memoir of a Sparklemuffin
Two years have passed since Suki Waterhouse released her debut album, I Can't Let Go, and the wait for new music is finally over. On September 13th, the British singer revealed her 18-track second album, titled Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, which we are all already vibing to. This time, she blends retro-pop sounds with alternative rock and indie melodies to create a uniquely soothing sound that rules throughout the entirety of the album. Now, following the birth of her first child, the multi-talented star is set to tour around America this fall.
While you may know her from her role as Bethany in the rom-com Love, Rosie, or as keyboardist Karen Sirko in the Amazon Prime limited series Daisy Jones & The Six, Waterhouse’s passion for music began long before her rise to stardom. She started releasing records independently almost a decade ago. With hits like "Good Looking" and "Johanna" among her most viral singles, reaching millions of listeners, it wasn’t until her debut album that she signed with the American record label Sub Pop.
The songwriter has created a distinctive sound for her music. Her first single, "Brutally", released in 2016, set the tone for the sound we would hear in her future projects, which often draw inspiration from indie beats and Americana folklore. With each track released throughout her career, Waterhouse consistently transports us to a place of ease with her soothing voice, soft melodies, and nostalgic storytelling. In Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, she blends her signature retro-pop style with the sounds of the nineties Britpop era, delivering a unique and more personal approach.
Suki Waterhouse performing in London in 2022, via Daily Mail @Redferns
According to the "Moves" singer, the concept for her new album was born during a late-night scroll on the internet. She randomly discovered a multi-colored Australian spider called Sparklemuffin, which she described as "cute". Later, she explained how this jumping spider symbolized her personal growth in various aspects of her life. "I came across the Sparklemuffin - which is wildly colored, does this razzle-dazzle dance, and its mate will cannibalize it if she doesn’t approve of the dance. It’s a metaphor for the dance of life we’re all in. The title felt hilarious, ridiculous, and wonderful to me", she told Sub Pop.
The album opens with the single "Gateway Drug," an almost three-minute track that sets the tone for the entire album, starting with soft, dreamy melodies and building up to fast-paced drums and guitars. It continues with two of the album’s most popular new tracks, "Supersad" and "Blackout Drunk", which deliver the best of both worlds: fun beats and catchy lyrics to scream along to.
The record continues with more upbeat tracks like "My Fun", released earlier this year, which feels like a refreshing summer anthem. It then transitions to "Model, Actress, Whatever", where Waterhouse introduces a series of ballads, with lyrics becoming rawer and melodies softer. Memoir of a Sparklemuffin wraps up with the single "To Love", the first taste we had of the album when it was released almost a year and a half ago.
Suki Waterhouse has certainly explored many creative realms since adolescence, establishing herself as an actor, model, singer, and talented songwriter. "I am so full of wanting to write and wanting to make as much stuff", she shared on the Broken Record podcast. On that note, we can only expect much more music from Waterhouse soon while we continue jamming to Memoir of a Sparklemuffin.
