On the 28th of April, 2023, Lorelei Marcell released her debut album 'Bittersweet Stages'. With 16 songs, a total playtime duration of about 43 minutes, and a unique perspective on heartbreak, Lorelei's album is full of anthems for modern teenagers. She experiments with her indie-pop sound throughout the LP, playing with her lyrics to speak to her listeners.
It's an incredible album, but what else do we know? Who is Lorelei Marcell? What's to come? In this article, we'll dive deep into the singer and this album, so turn on 'Bittersweet Stages', get comfortable, and get ready for your new favorite artist.
Who is Lorelei Marcell?
Image by Shari Hoffman, provided by management
Born outside of Philadelphia, raised outside of Boston, and currently living in Los Angeles, Lorelei is an ambitious singer, ready to make her dreams of stardom come true. At only 20 years old, Lorelai has already released an album, 2 EPs, and several singles. She grew up writing and playing music. It was one of her biggest passions throughout her life as she continued to develop the skills needed to make it big.
Lorelei wrote as a way to escape. Like many modern adolescents, she struggled with various anxieties. School, relationships, and self-love are universal struggles that Lorelei faced.
Writing music helped her overcome these challenging feelings, working through her problems while perfecting her craft. In addition, music is a global connector, something that drew Lorelei in. She craves contact with others that she can relate to — others that love music as much as she does. Lorelei says that ''collaborating with other artists and writers is just such a special and intimate time'', bringing her inspiration and new material.
Lorelei thrives in creative spaces, whether she's hanging out with her musical friends or recording in the studio. R&B artists made a massive impact on Lorelei; powerhouses like Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin became her idols as she immersed herself in the industry. She has plans to make something of herself as a musician and is already halfway to the big leagues. One day, Lorelei Marcell will be just as big of a name as the musicians that inspire her.
The Album
Image by Shari Hoffman, provided by management
'Bittersweet Stages' is an entirely unique listening experience. It begins with a 30-second intro track with pieced-together audio clips to intrigue the audience about what to expect next, thus giving a brief synopsis of everything to come. 'Need Me,' one of the album's hits, quickly follows. It opens with a synthetic organ sound and Lorelei's angelic voice.
She tells a story of breakup nostalgia, reflecting on a past relationship with her relatable lyrics. It's a classic pop song, making it no shock that it has collected over 150,000 plays on Spotify alone. After, 'Masterpiece,' featuring The Grand Mess, brings a catchy chorus and perfectly-meshing vocals. A similar surreal background track ties the album together and makes the songs cohesive. Both artists' voices blend together beautifully, making it a fan-favorite track. The LP continues with thirteen perfect pop songs, my favorite being the first song on Side B, 'Flashbacks,' featuring Hardcastle.
The LP is a story. It brings up emotions of despair, hope, and acceptance, with the listener able to follow Lorelei on her journey to self-love. Each song is just one jigsaw puzzle piece, fitting perfectly altogether.
Put this way, you can't have one hit without another. Together the pieces make one of the best LPs we've seen this year, and it's criminal that it isn't more popular.
One of the most exciting aspects of 'Bittersweet Stages' is the new take on heartbreak. Lorelei chose to feel for her ex instead of writing songs chock-full of resentment as many do; she moved against the crowd. She explored her own sadness and longing while remaining uniquely empathetic.
She claimed she couldn't force herself to feel anger, even though she wanted to. This contrast brought her a new mindset. Why should she feel bitter? Why not bittersweet? Just like that, the title of the album came together. She allowed herself to move on while reflecting on the past and the good things she found in her relationship while accepting the bad. She found self-love, calling it a 'transformative and necessary state,' an ideal that many try to find in their own life, exemplified perfectly by Lorelei. After two years of work in both her personal and professional life, finishing the album gave Lorelei closure. Her music became a beacon of hope for heartbroken listeners, proving that it does actually get better.
What Can we Expect?
Lorelei wants to grow her fanbase and connect with those around her. She plans to keep her music close to her heart, writing and releasing songs that she is genuinely proud of. Lorelei is not afraid of hard work and will spend as long as it takes perfecting her music.
However, fans will be incredibly glad to know that there is more coming! This summer, Lorelei will be releasing some more singles in preparation for another EP in the fall. While we only have a little information on these pieces, we know that they will be incredible. Not only this, but we can expect more at the end of the year. Lorelei's beloved holiday song, 'Love Me Back,' will have one (or more!) brand new renditions for the winter season. Needless to say, she's extremely dedicated to her craft, not leaving her audience waiting for too long before she releases another hit.
Lorelei is one in a generation, a pop star that just keeps on giving. She is passionate about what she does, and at such a young age, Lorelei is already accomplishing her dreams. This LP is full of every emotion and takes you on a journey of growth, from sorrow to acceptance.
I was lucky enough to be introduced to her music through this article, and I have never been happier to claim a pitch. She has earned a spot on all of my playlists and, hopefully, yours too. 'Bittersweet Stages' is the true soundtrack to a breakup, making anybody feel seen. We're anxiously anticipating her next release, but until then, we will have 'Bittersweet Stages' on repeat.
