Kita Alexander - Rage

Despite its title, Kita Alexander’s sophomore LP is not a rage album, but a more nuanced exploration of emotion.

Following the Byron Bay singer’s debut album Young in Love, RAGE expands on the simple, carefree pop sound – this time, trading the upbeat, dance-pop love songs for a more indie-focused palette. Alexander explores the complexities of processing anger, setting boundaries, and the gradual process of healing.

Opening the 12-track LP is “The Good House”, a soft, country-leaning ballad detailing how Alexander masks her inner struggles with mental burnout and deeply suppressed rage behind the appearance of having everything under control. Meanwhile, the title track captures the uneasy momentum of rage coming in waves, set atop a light, breezy instrumental. It recalls the timeless ease of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”, reframed with a modern pop twist reminiscent of “Nice To Each Other” by Olivia Dean.

As the album progresses, the sonic atmosphere shifts from lively soft rock into more stripped-back, acoustic balladry. “Tell My Friends”, featuring Danish singer Christopher, benefits from a confident guest vocal that arrives with just the right amount of energy to complement both Alexander’s tone and narrative, resulting in one of the album’s strongest cuts. However, the following two tracks – “Avoidance” and “Telepathy Is Real” – tread into similar territory, but lack the same memorability, failing to leave as strong of an impression as the duet.

This raises the question of where RAGE ultimately places Alexander as both an artist and a songwriter. Her strengths clearly continue to lie in portraying emotional experiences in accessible and relatable ways – particularly themes of romance and rage – favouring simplicity over complexity, further defining her appeal. On RAGE, consistency and cohesion remain key, with the Australian singer’s warm vocal tone and effective songwriting working together towards creating a string of well-crafted pop hits.

Ultimately, it can be described as the epitome of coffee shop music: lighthearted, easygoing tunes to soundtrack the start of a morning. It is not so light that it fades into the background or becomes forgettable, nor is it too content-heavy that it demands constant attention. Instead, Alexander finds a comfortable middle ground, even if the album’s middle stretch occasionally slips into filler material. Otherwise, it is a warm, cohesive, and pleasantly comforting body of work.

Overall, RAGE is a consistent and well-executed sophomore album, reinforcing Kita Alexander’s strengths as a pop singer and songwriter. While it doesn’t represent a major departure from her previous sound, it balances her approach to raw, self-aware storytelling with bright, infectious melodies. It is a statement that suggests that sometimes, the best way to process emotions of anger, struggle, and rage is just to sing through it all.

7.5/10

Thanks to Warner Music Australia for the early listen.