You may have heard of Lexa Gates from her recent performance art piece where she locked herself in a glass box for 12 hours at Union Square in New York. Long time fans of Lexa know and love her for her honesty, humor, and the magnificent sound she’s built over the last few years. She makes music that highlights the true experience of living in a young woman’s body (which she might describe as an “Elite Vessel”, the title of her newest album). But for Lexa, what comes along with being a beautiful and successful woman is deep vulnerability, confusion, insecurity, and frustration. She has a talent for articulating the grey areas of the human experience where things are simultaneously great and terrible.
Lexa’s personality and style is bold. Her enormous winged eyeliner reminds me of women like Amy Winehouse and Julia Fox, both known for being unapologetically themselves and using their voices to make other women feel seen and understood. Lexa’s lyrics are oftentimes harsh, blunt, and abrasive. Some may hear these moments and think they’re “too much”, but for every one of those people, there’s also a girl giggling at her feelings and experiences being articulated in a way that’s so honest it’s hilarious. Lyrics like “4 shots, 400 chickpeas, probably gotta take a fat sh*t before I leave” (from “What You Wish For”) or “I’m acting stupid that’s what normal girls do” (from “Stupid”) show Lexa not taking herself too seriously and recognizing her imperfections, extending an open arm to all girls who might feel the same way.
On her newest album Elite Vessel , Lexa weaves between rapping and singing (her style of delivery often reminds me of Mac Miller), telling stories of intense love, disappointment, navigating her growing career, and so much more. A major highlight of the project is “Sweet.. Time” featuring Zelooperz. The opening line is jarring and passionate (and almost humorous, knowing Lexa’s personality): “I love you so much it makes me wanna kill myself”. Zelooperz brings in a relaxed verse that feels warm and playful, a side from him that I really love.
Another high point is “Thinking of You”, which Lexa previewed on her On The Radar performance in January of this year. Her New York accent shines through as she raps over a sparkly and angelic beat, spilling her true feelings to her lover. On this song (and throughout the album), Lexa is strongly aware of her own character flaws; she’s learning when to stand strong in her habits and when she should be willing to change. “I’m bad with things that involve anyone other than me / but I been tryna be somebody that your sister can look up to”.
It’s hard not to fall head over heels for Lexa Gates once you take a step into her world. Her music is an authentic reflection of her personality, her delivery is refreshingly direct, and the way she uses her voice is breathtaking. She shows us that there’s beauty hidden in the mess, and we’re all doing our best to find it.
