Camila Cabello debuts her Latin-infused pastel pop

Former ‘Fifth Harmony’ breakout star establishes her own artistry

Isaac Wert

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Fair use from Epic Records

Almost a year following her highly-publicized departure from girl-group “Fifth Harmony,” singer-songwriter Camila Cabello unleashed her fantastic self-titled debut, which showcases both Cabello’s talent and potential to become a pop megastar.

Cabello explored various musical styles following her departure from “Fifth Harmony.” She featured on Machine Gun Kelly’s “Bad Things,” released a Sia co-write, “Crying in the Club,” but upon releasing her smash-hit “Havana,” Cabello finally found her sound. Cabello’s ode to Cuba rocked clubs and car-radios worldwide throughout the latter half of 2017.

“Havana,” which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, perfectly captures Cabello as an artist. Her music is fun and catchy, all the while conveying personal stories and feelings as a young adult navigating periods of growth and change.

“Camila’s” light sonic landscape consists of various acoustic instruments and Latin-inspired tropes, including reggaeton syncopation, steel drums and plucked guitars. However, the album’s acoustic palette is laced with electronic and hip-hop production, giving Cabello’s songs a modern twist and helping craft a unique overall sound – one which features pastel production, but vibrant personality.

Throughout the album, Cabello’s vocal versatility is on full display, bouncing between close whispers like Selena Gomez and incredible runs like Ariana Grande, showing vast vocal improvement from her ‘Fifth Harmony’ days.

“Camila’s” lean 10-song tracklist makes for a short listen, and while “Havana” is the clear standout, Epic Records should have no problem finding additional singles. “She Loves Control” sounds like “Despacito’s” spunky cousin, whereas “In the Dark” is a mellow pop jam with a catchy chorus, followed by the sexy and exuberant “Into It.” “Real Friends” is an additional highlight, with a stunning post-chorus primed for 2018 radio.

The album’s weaker tracks are not unlistenable by any means, but are merely mediocre in both melodies and lyrical content. It’s completely understandable that Cabello is still exploring songwriting and her art, but for an album so short in length, I feel like less of the tracklist’s real estate should be allocated to filler songs, which include “Consequences” and “Inside Out.”

Ultimately, “Camila” is a strong solo debut, proving that Cabello has what it takes to be a superstar. I am both excited and curious to see where Cabello goes next, and you should be too.

“Camila” is currently available on all media platforms for purchase and streaming, including iTunes/Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal.

“Camila:” ★★★★/5