On Venus, Zara embarks on a journey to find true love while reigniting her spark after a broken relationship. This album is a celebration of all that the goddess of Venus is associated with – love, desire, and victory.
Zara’s infectious energy permeates this body of work, catering precisely to her devoted fandom. The opening track ‘Can’t Tame Her’, sets the tone with an empowering anthem about freedom and letting go of anything that hinders it.
Following it is ‘More Than This Was’, a chill track that progressively gets better, especially with the adlibs on the final chorus. One thing about Zara, she will always sing her heart out.
Not a fan of DJ features in an album, but this next song with David Guetta surprisingly fits in with the album’s narrative. Lyrically, Zara expresses her commitment to love and embracing it regardless of challenges.
Going into Ammunition, the throughline of love and desire becomes clearer. Despite a somewhat outdated sonic feel and a 3:42 length that doesn’t help either, the ending is almost experimental and makes the transition into the next track ‘None of These Guys’ a little seamless. Now this is where Zara shines, a darker sonic palette with overproduced vocals. The bassline steals the spotlight on this one, as Zara flaunts her neither “too short” nor “too high” man. What a catchy song, this deserved to be blasted in clubs.
‘You say who you love’ maintains the darker sound with the grungy verses. Again, Zara touches on the theme of empowerment, reminding women to know their worth, removing rose-colored glasses, and letting go of toxic partners.
Moving on to ‘End Of Time’, this album becomes more and more conceptual than any of Zara’s previous records. It’s lyrically rich and the production is dynamic. This song has an emotional touch to it, almost like a heartfelt letter.
I want your love To redefine The very meaning of my life Undo the fabric of my mind
Almost in the same realm lyrically is the track ‘Nothing’. While the production is very cinematic, it feels like a filler among the other solid tracks.
‘Escape’ brings back the fun vibe, much appreciated after the somber ‘Nothing’. Zara wants to let go of the past and sees an escape in her love. The melodies are as catchy as it gets.
‘Soundtrack’, the saddest song on the album showcases Zara’s elevated performance on slower tracks. You can feel every emotion as she mourns the end of a relationship.
Reminiscent of ‘Can’t Tame Her’, ‘’Venus’ also incorporates the 80s sound. This needs to be the next single! It stands out as a perfect 10/10 track, truly doing justice to the album title.
Closing with ‘The Healing’, Zara bares her vulnerable side, asking for time and space to heal from broken, past relationships, until the “monster in her head is finally gone”. It’s a beautiful track aligning perfectly with Venus being the god of victory and prosperity as well.
Personally, ‘Venus’ surpasses Zara’s previous works, offering a great, uplifting record with hints of vulnerability. Although there are a couple of weak tracks, there are undeniably some career highlights. Zara seems to have entered a new territory in her career with this album, demonstrating the clearest of vision and promising an even greater rise from here.
Favorites: Soundtrack, Venus, Escape
Skips: Ammunition, Nothing
Check out: Albums To Look Out For in 2024