Album Review: Diana Gordon ‘Pure’
Diana Gordon’s most recent release has a teen spirit overcast that just won’t let up. Filled with celebrations of the present, and projections of days to come, the Brooklyn bell has brought Black Indie mainstream.
Gordon has seen found success as a songwriter, and worked with megastars and successful groups inlcuding Danity Kane, Mary J Blige, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyonce — from which she garnered credits for “Sorry” and “Daddy Lessons,” which appeared on Lemonade.
Pure, released in August, is her first work released in her own name. She previously worked under the moniker Wynter Gordon, releasing four EPs.
A five-song EP, Pure starts with “Wolverine,” an upbeat track that fuses pop and hip-hop so well you almost forget music has genres. Gordon’s voice soars as she paints pictures of her dreams of starting a family, and much more:
“Mama said she had a dream/ always banging on that tambourine/And you know she had to make a scene/ that’s why I left home at 17.”
The second track, “Thank You,” just sounds like WINNING! Diana proclaims, “I just wanna thank you for making life so hard for me/ I wanna Thank you for waking up/ never letting me sleep.” It feels like gospel, birthed from the Brooklyn hip-hop ’90s.
“Kool-Aid” is a bittersweet letter home. The songstress reminisces in an almost homesick way, finding her journey of self discovery and success. The lyrics here seem very personal.
“Moment to Myself’ follows, a ballad that confirms just how human we are. Gordon shines in the final track “Too Young,” a love story portrayed in its rarest form, from begging to end: “I met your daddy when we were young/ maybe we were just too young.”
The work plays like a personal prayer and ode to the future, as well as being a playful reminder of the past. The music is truly inspiring to aspiring songwriters.
Throughout the records, I find myself rooting for Gordon, feeling eager for what’s next and seeing the progression and growth of her career, as well as personal happiness she seems to deserve.
