May 19th marks the release of Alex Lahey’s third album, ‘The Answer Is Always Yes.’ Lahey debuted with ‘I Love You Like a Brother’ in 2017 and followed it up with ‘The Best of Luck Club’ in 2019.
The album opens with ‘Good Time,’ which effectively sets the tone. The track has the potential to become an anthem for embracing one’s true self. Lahey’s ‘Good Time’ captures the internal struggles that many of us face for various reasons, giving voice to the thoughts we often have when we yearn for a better reality.
“Living in a world that wasn’t designed for you makes you resilient and adaptable, and you find joy in it,” says Alex Lahey. “It also highlights the absurdity of everything. With ‘The Answer Is Always Yes,’ I wanted to get unconventional because the world is strange, and it becomes even stranger when you realize you don’t always fit in.” This realization resonates with many of Lahey’s listeners, offering comfort and reassurance that they are not alone in their experiences.
Lahey’s own experiences as a queer individual and a child of migrants are reflected in her third album, ‘The Answer Is Always Yes.’ It delves into how she finds solace amidst discomfort while navigating a world that wasn’t tailored to her.
‘Congratulations’ explores the peculiar situation of two exes getting married separately within a short timeframe. The track attempts to focus on being happy for the exes, but inevitably stirs up buried emotions that Lahey tried to move on from. Seeing our exes move on can be challenging, especially if the separation was amicable, as it reminds us that things could have turned out differently and the relationship could have endured.
Next is the song ‘Shit Talkin’,’ which captures the struggle of deciding which version of ourselves we allow others to see, while battling the anxiety of being talked about behind our backs. This track serves as an anthem for learning not to care about gossip.
‘They Wouldn’t Let Me In’ carries a distinct punk vibe and would likely be an electrifying experience in a live setting. The track reflects on Lahey’s experiences as a queer teenager. “All these kids around me were kissing and dating, having those formative experiences, and discussing them with each other, while I felt like an outsider because I didn’t fit in,” Lahey explains. “When I was growing up, there was no representation of queerness or queer joy in the media. And as a teenager, I wondered, ‘Will I ever have those experiences?'”
Alex Lahey concludes her latest album with the title track, ‘The Answer Is Always Yes.’ This synth-infused stadium rock song provides a fitting conclusion to the album and complements the other tracks perfectly.
Lahey explains, “I believe that if you say yes and explore, you’re always progressing.” She adds, “That’s where I am in life right now. I just don’t want to stop.” These words are motivating and encourage us to embrace a hopeful mindset, knowing that there is always room for improvement and growth in our lives.