Doja Cat - Vie

The anger is in the past. It’s time to dance.

Doja Cat’s fourth album Scarlet was received rather controversially, with many listeners deterred by the bitterness and vitriol laced throughout the project. Her fifth LP, Vie, released September 26 via RCA, sees her return to the pop soundscape that brought her acclaim in the past - however, it’s a brand-new version of this sound, leaning into some heavy retro inspiration. So, how does this work out?

The record opens with “Cards”, which feels like an immediate statement of intent and a sign of what’s to come for the album. A bright, bouncy funk-inspired instrumental, with smooth melodic vocals and a solid rap verse from Doja, with the track painting a picture of a potential romance. The romantic and sexual themes stay present throughout the record, being its central focus lyrically; this feels more similar to Doja’s past projects as opposed to Scarlet, and is a welcome return to form. She feels much more at home and in her element when it comes to these coy, oftentimes tongue-in-cheek and quippy lyrics about love and sex. There are some great funny and witty lines throughout the project, especially on tracks like the aptly titled “AAAHH MEN!” and “Silly! Fun!”, which show off Doja Cat’s unique personality as an artist very well without being off-putting. 

That personality extends past just the lyrical content, too. Doja Cat maintains a great mix between silky singing and her signature energetic, highly charismatic rapping throughout the record, keeping things varied and versatile. The rapping side of things is significantly more consistent than on Scarlet, with good flows and compelling cadences. The tracks themselves are also versatile, with the funky elements of songs like the aforementioned “Cards” or the SZA-assisted “Take Me Dancing”, sometimes giving way to more traditional dance-pop and hip-hop rhythms on tracks like “Make It Up” or “One More Time”. 

The standout element of Vie is unquestionably its production, though. The sound of the project is vivid and extremely colorful, making many of the tracks instantly infectious. The instrumental work within each song is done fantastically, particularly the bass lines on a lot of the songs. All the instruments are slick and glossy in a way typical of the 80s sounds that a lot of this album is aiming to emulate, giving it an authentically retro, nostalgic feel.

Overall, Vie is a step back in the right direction for Doja Cat. She thrives in this lighter, more carefree aesthetic and style - and she seems to have fully recognized that on this album. It’s a project full of moments to make the listener smile, and of grooves to get people out of their seats and make them want to dance. Doja Cat occupies a singular niche between rap and pop music in the modern scene, and she utilizes that niche expertly on her fifth studio album.

7.6/10