JUJU by Karen Willems

Disorderly, unstable thought processes typically heighten our anxiety, but Karen Willems and her new album JUJU paint a picture of a restless mind that accepts its own quirks and idiosyncrasies without nervous judgment. This jazzy, kraut-inspired, psychedelic album embeds intense solos and vocal performances into an underlying bed of traditional percussion and strong countermelodies, setting dramatic, busy scenes that generally resolve peacefully. Though the album champions an expressionist mentality, lyrics throughout the album also direct this flow of emotion outwards, emphasizing issues like climate change and the refugee crisis, encouraging us not to lose sight of the world in the midst of our self-exploration. Even when facing off against colossal, systemic evils, the music maintains its positive flow, accepting the monumental nature of these issues without panicking about our inability to immediately correct them. Of course, the album still advocates us to work tirelessly towards a better world, but the combination of self-acceptance and worldly stoicism ultimately aids in this message, encouraging us not to panic or lose faith in our agency.