ALBUM REVIEW: Skylar Forester’s “Then and Now”
In this time of the ever-evolving and at times superficial entertainment industry, singer-songwriter Skylar Forester is continuing to release authentic and honest music about life, mental health, identity, and recent events. Local to the Buffalo area, Skylar Forester has released their first EP, Then and Now, covering relatable themes in a simple, stripped-back style of pop music.
Inspired by a handful of genres, including pop, country, pop-punk, and alternative, Skylar hones in on aspects of all these influences, able to put their own spin on the music they write. With pop sounds and tendencies leading the album, it’s refreshing to hear music with catchy melodies and acoustic backing tracks. The balance between their guitar, or ukulele, and their voice allows you to really focus and dive into the words and the story they are telling.
As the work begins, you get to hear the sweet sounds of their guitar playing the opening riff. Eventually, they start to sing, their voice the perfect timbre and pitch to showcase the lyrics they have written. Brighter is about keeping yourself positive through difficult times, which we all have had no shortage of recently. The melodies and key naturally make the song uplifting, but Skylar’s voice and words of encouragement take it another step further.
Notice Me is a raw and sincere take on what it is like to fall in love with someone you may not have a chance with. The track is soft while also being upfront about the desires of someone you love, or who loves you. The industry might be flooded with love songs, but Skylar offers a more introspective approach.
My personal favorite, Doesn’t Feel Like Home, is a more emotional track on the work, as they sing about trying to understand one’s identity, life, and coping with the changes that are always happening in life. The lyrics are personal but also relatable to listeners. The uncertainty and internal turmoil are beautifully depicted, and somewhat bittersweet as well.
Alive, the final track, offers flashbacks to the COVID-19 outbreak and pandemic, which keeps with themes of the unknown and feeling lonely and slightly hopeless. Listening to this track, with the hindsight of six years, allows me to reflect on all that has happened since then. It’s a time capsule of sorts of everything that Skylar has been through and how they feel about looking to the future and what is to come. The reflections and the way they are so self-aware and in tune with their emotions are the things that allow them to write the way they do, and the talents they possess are all captured in this work.
Then and Now is out on all streaming platforms, where you can check out their other work. For business inquiries and to keep up with their work, check out www.skylarforester.net and their Instagram @skylarforester7.
