On September 13, 2024, rising R&B artist Brittany Fousheé released her third album, Pointy Heights. Named after a plot of land in Jamaica owned by her grandfather, this project pays homage to Fousheé’s heritage and offers a glimpse into her feelings surrounding identity, self-discovery, and resilience.
At just 27 minutes long, Pointy Heights features 10 tracks, all produced in collaboration with names like bnyx, solomonophonic, carter lang, dylan, jean, and most notably, Steve Lacey. Their previous work together, including hits like “Bad Habit” and “Sunshine,” has marked them as a kind of dynamic duo, which is only further emphasized through pieces like “birds, bees,” “100 bux,” “closer,” “rice and peas,” and “still around.”
The opening song, “birds, bees,” samples the flute melody from Diana Ross’s “My House,” creating a nostalgic feel that’s complemented by Fousheé’s high-pitched, breathy vocals. The transition into “do you have a soul” is nearly seamless, yet quickly becomes more upbeat as the lyrics delve deeper into ideas of questioning that can be found throughout this collection.
Compared to previous songs, “feels like home” takes things in a slightly different direction with the tempo slowing down, allowing the audience to fully absorb the emotions being conveyed. “100 bux” further highlights the intimate nature of this album, inviting contemplation about the person being addressed with lines like “did you recover from the party favors?”
“loversisland” lifts the mood with a sound that merges elements of disco and surf rock. This piece marks a pivotal shift, showcasing Fousheé’s ability to diversify her style while remaining true to a project’s vision. The switch to “closer” is abrupt but captures attention, pulling listeners back into the narrative. The chorus, “When I’m with ya/I’m closer to God,” introduces a unique spiritual element that deepens the overall meaning behind the album as a whole.
“war” features a familiar piano melody while the chorus repeats “I’d rather not be at war,” suggesting a plea for peace that could be directed at the artist’s muse. Elaborating on concepts from “war” with lyrics like “some get peace and some get rice and peas” the following track, “rice and peas” nods to the influence of the artist’s heritage through references to a Jamaican dish and a fusion of Caribbean beats and a synth-pop sound .
Featuring a blend of instrumental creativity, lyrical craftsmanship, and vocal mastery, “still around” was released as a teaser for Pointy Heights on July 30, 2024. This song helped generate a significant amount of buzz around the release and has remained one of the most popular tracks off the EP, and for good reason. The finale, “Flowers” slows down the pace, leaving listeners on a somber note with the lyrics “I knew I shouldn’t have taken flowers from you/You count the petals and make them collateral/Like pillars of sand, piles and piles/You can never fulfill the demand.”
Overall, Pointy Heights is an impressive exploration of creative, personal themes, showcasing Brittany Fousheé’s growth as an artist while inviting listeners to witness a moving expression of vulnerability and experimentation.
