Clarity (mixtape)

Last updated
Clarity
Kim Petras - Clarity.png
Mixtape by
Kim Petras
Released28 June 2019 (2019-06-28)
Genre
Length38:12
Label
Producer
Kim Petras chronology
Turn Off the Light, Vol. 1
(2018)		Clarity
(2019)		 Turn Off the Light
(2019)
Singles from Clarity
  1. "Icy"
    Released: 27 June 2019

Clarity is the debut mixtape [6] and first full-length project by German singer Kim Petras, released on 28 June 2019. [7] Nine of its twelve tracks were released beforehand, beginning in April 2019. [8] It was produced by Made in China, Aaron Joseph, Brandon Hamlin, Jussifer, Oliver and Ben Billions. Petras stated that this project is her "personal journey over the last two years".

Contents

Clarity received very positive reviews from critics upon release, who praised its catchy pop sound, with some comparing it to artists like Robyn, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. To promote the album, Petras embarked on the Clarity Tour starting with North America and then Europe.

Background

Petras has said the project is "about finding myself. It started with 'Broken' and will end with 'Clarity' because it reflects my personal journey over the last two years." [9] Nine of the songs were released in advance, [8] including the "breakup anthem" "Broken", [9] "downtempo" song "All I Do Is Cry", the "hookup anthem" "Do Me", [10] and the "bouncy banger" "Personal Hell". [9]

The first song that was released from Clarity was "Broken", on 25 April 2019 written by Petras herself and co-writer Anthony Medina. Petras later released one song every week to streaming services after that for ten weeks. Petras confirmed on Twitter that the tenth song that was released from Clarity, "Icy", was the actual lead single.

Composition

The album contains elements of synth-pop, bubblegum pop, hip hop, contemporary R&B, glam rock and emo pop. [2] [3] [4] [5] Reviewers also noted a shift towards darker themes and hip-hop influences on the project, though most still emphasized the danceable aspect of some tracks from the album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 83/100 [11]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The New York Times 10/10 [12]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Pitchfork 7.2/10 [13]
Variety 7.5/10 [14]

On Metacritic, the project received a score of 83 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim". [11] Variety called the project "sturdy pop songcraft" and compared it favorably to Robyn's 1995 album Robyn Is Here , also making a comparison between Petras' career trajectory and that of Lorde. [4] Comparing the record to the early 2000s pop hits of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, The Guardian gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and praised its power-pop sound. It also wrote that Petras' "addictively crafted bubblegum pop" makes her "sound like a superstar from a parallel universe", and praised her musical experimentation. [2] Writing for Stereogum , Chris DeVille identified the main theme of the album as "looking for release through sex and materialism". DeVille noted that it marks a shift in Petras' content from "sparkling pop sound into a mistier, sadder, more hip-hop-adjacent territory" and praised it as "an impressive collection". [3] Tyler Mazaheri of Flaunt favored the album's nontraditional single-a-week promotion and praised the project for its "catchy choruses layered over danceable beats", adding that "the album is sure to pack all the bops [audiences will] be hearing in the club for the unforeseeable future." [15] In his review of the single "Icy", Michael Love Michael of Paper proclaimed "Kim Petras just might have released one of this year's most compelling pop collections." [16]

Year-end lists
PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Billboard The 50 Best Albums of 2019
48
The New York Times Best Albums of 2019
4
Uproxx The 35 Best Pop Albums of 2019
17

Promotion

Petras performing next to Aaron Joseph during the Broken Tour in Berlin Kim Petras Aaron Joseph Clarity Tour 2019.jpg
Petras performing next to Aaron Joseph during the Broken Tour in Berlin

Prior to the release of Clarity, Petras began embarking on her 24-stop promotional tour, The Broken Tour. Through May and June, Petras appeared on a number of magazine covers including ones for Galore, The Gay Times, Flaunt, Notion, and AtKode. [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

Singles

Petras released the first song from Clarity, "Broken", on 25 April 2019. Petras released one song every week to streaming services after that for ten weeks in preparation for her debut concert tour Broken Tour. Petras later confirmed on Twitter that the tenth song to be released from the album, "Icy", was the actual lead single. [25]

Track listing

Clarity track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Clarity"
2:02
2."Icy"
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
  • Oliver
3:09
3."Got My Number"
2:54
4."Sweet Spot"
  • Petras
  • Gottwald
  • Joseph
  • Thomas
  • Oliver
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
  • Oliver
3:14
5."Personal Hell"
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
  • Oliver
3:40
6."Broken"
3:48
7."All I Do Is Cry"
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
3:23
8."Do Me"
  • Petras
  • Gottwald
  • Joseph
  • Thomas
  • Oliver
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
  • Oliver
3:32
9."Meet the Parents"
  • Petras
  • Gottwald
  • Joseph
  • Jennings
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
2:12
10."Another One"
  • Petras
  • Gottwald
  • Joseph
  • Thomas
  • Love
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
3:45
11."Blow It All"
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
2:58
12."Shinin'"
  • Petras
  • Gottwald
  • Joseph
  • Thomas
  • Jennings
  • Made in China
  • Joseph
3:35
Total length:38:12

Charts

Chart performance for Clarity
Chart (2019–2020)Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [26] 7
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [27] 28
US Top Current Album Sales ( Billboard ) [28] 78

See also

Related Research Articles

Icy commonly refers to conditions involving ice, a frozen state, usually referring to frozen water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Petras</span> German singer and songwriter (born 1992)

Kim Petras is a German singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Between 2016 and 2020, she released music as an independent artist under her own imprint, BunHead Records, before signing with Amigo and Republic Records in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charli XCX</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1992)

Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known professionally as Charli XCX, is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, she began posting songs on Myspace in 2008, which led to her discovery by a promoter who invited her to perform at warehouse raves. In 2010, she signed a recording contract with Asylum Records, releasing a series of singles and mixtapes throughout 2011 and 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart to Break</span> 2018 song by Kim Petras

"Heart to Break" is a song by German singer-songwriter Kim Petras. It was released on 14 February 2018. The music video was released on 26 April 2018. The track was produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut, and written by Luke, Cirkut, and Petras as well as Aaron Joseph and Jacob Kasher. It is the sixth of eleven singles, released from 2017 to 2019, that form Petras' "Era 1".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feeling of Falling</span> 2018 single by Cheat Codes and Kim Petras

"Feeling of Falling" is a single by American DJ group Cheat Codes and German singer Kim Petras, released on November 30, 2018. The track was written by Ivy Adara, Trevor Dahl, Matthew Elifritz, Aaron Jennings, Sean Myer, and Kevin Pederson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1, 2, 3 Dayz Up</span> 2019 single by Kim Petras

"1, 2, 3 Dayz Up" is a song by German singer-songwriter Kim Petras featuring Scottish producer Sophie. It is the final of eleven singles, from 2017 to 2019, that form Petras' Era 1 project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Spot (Kim Petras song)</span> 2019 promotional single by Kim Petras

"Sweet Spot" is a song by German singer Kim Petras from her debut album Clarity (2019). It was released as the fourth promotional single from the album on May 13, 2019, by BunHead Records. Petras released this song among others from the same album in preparation for her North American tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broken Tour</span> 2019 concert tour by Kim Petras

The Broken Tour was the debut concert tour by German recording artist Kim Petras in support of her debut mixtape Clarity (2019). The tour was announced by Petras via her social media accounts on April 30, 2019. It started on 11 June 2019 in Nashville, United States and concluded on 4 September 2019 in Cologne, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Do Is Cry</span> 2019 promotional single by Kim Petras

"All I Do Is Cry" is a song by German singer Kim Petras from her debut album Clarity (2019). First released as the fifth promotional single from the album on 23 May 2019 by BunHead Records, it was re-released two years later on streaming services with a changed date of 2021 under Amigo and Republic Records. Petras released this song among others from the same album in preparation for her North American tour.

<i>Charli</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Charli XCX

Charli is the third studio album by British singer Charli XCX. It was released through Asylum and Atlantic Records UK on 13 September 2019.

<i>Turn Off the Light</i> (mixtape) 2019 mixtape by Kim Petras

Turn Off the Light is the second mixtape by German singer Kim Petras. It was released on 1 October 2019 and originally through her own label, BunHead. The album was originally supposed to be released in two volumes, Turn Off the Light, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 – although it was ultimately released as a full-length album comprising the eight songs from the first volume and nine new songs recorded for the second volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarity Tour</span> 2019–20 concert tour by Kim Petras

The Clarity Tour was the second concert tour by German recording artist Kim Petras in support of her 2019 debut mixtape Clarity. The tour was announced by Petras via her social media accounts on 4 September 2019. It started on 21 October 2019 in Vancouver, Canada and concluded on 11 February 2020 in London, England.

<i>How Im Feeling Now</i> 2020 studio album by Charli XCX

How I'm Feeling Now is the fourth studio album by British singer Charli XCX, released on 15 May 2020. Released eight months after her previous LP, Charli (2019), the album was conceived in the span of six weeks during the COVID-19 lockdown in a "do it yourself" collaborative process with her fans. Charli XCX, A. G. Cook and BJ Burton served as the album's executive producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malibu (Kim Petras song)</span> 2020 single by Kim Petras

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<i>My Agenda</i> 2020 studio album by Dorian Electra

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future Starts Now</span> 2021 single by Kim Petras

"Future Starts Now" is a song by German singer-songwriter Kim Petras. It was released on 27 August 2021 through Amigo and Republic Records, making it her debut single under a major label.

<i>Slut Pop</i> 2022 EP by Kim Petras

Slut Pop is the third extended play (EP) by German singer Kim Petras. It was released on 11 February 2022 through Amigo Records and Republic.

<i>Feed the Beast</i> (Kim Petras album) 2023 studio album by Kim Petras

Feed the Beast is the debut studio album by German singer Kim Petras. It was released on 23 June 2023 through Amigo and Republic, following two mixtapes that Petras self-released four years prior. A pop and dance album, Feed the Beast explores themes of love, heartbreak and hedonism, filled with sex-positive lyrics on many of its songs. It was preceded by a promotional single, "Brrr", and the lead single, "Alone" with Nicki Minaj, and includes collaborations with Banks and Sam Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feed the Beast World Tour</span> 2023–2024 concert tour by Kim Petras

The Feed the Beast World Tour was the third headlining tour by German singer and songwriter Kim Petras, in support of her debut studio album Feed the Beast. The tour commenced on 4 August 2023 in Mountain View and concluded in Milan, Italy on 5 March 2024.

<i>Slut Pop Miami</i> 2024 EP by Kim Petras

Slut Pop Miami is the fourth extended play by German singer Kim Petras. It was released on 14 February 2024 through Amigo and Republic Records. It serves as a sequel to her 2022 EP Slut Pop.

References

  1. ↑ Bulmer, Eloise. "Kim Petras - Clarity". DIY. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cliff, Aimee (28 June 2019). "Kim Petras: Clarity review – light as bubblegum and hard as nails". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 DeVille, Chris (27 June 2019). "The Simple Pleasures And Complicated Backstory Of Kim Petras". Stereogum . Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Helligar, Jeremy (28 June 2019). "Album Review: Kim Petras' 'Clarity'". Variety . Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  5. 1 2 White, Caitlin (6 December 2019). "The Best Pop Albums Of 2019". UPROXX. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  6. ↑ Kim Petras [@kimpetras] (April 24, 2021). "[Clarity] was made as a mixtape 🙋‍♀️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. 1 2 Levine, Nick (3 July 2019). "Kim Petras – 'Clarity' Review". NME . Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  8. 1 2 Kenneally, Cerys (13 June 2019). "Kim Petras announces new collection of tracks Clarity". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 Nied, Mike (13 June 2019). "Kim Petras Announces 'Clarity,' Drops Latest Gem 'Personal Hell'". Idolator . Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  10. ↑ White, Caitlin (13 June 2019). "Kim Petras' Latest Single 'Personal Hell' Is An Icy Pop Anthem About Breaking Free". Uproxx . Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Clarity by Kim Petras Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  12. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (10 July 2019). "Album Review: Kim Petras' 'Clarity'". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  13. ↑ Cox, Jamieson (3 July 2019). "Kim Petras: Clarity Album Review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  14. ↑ Helligar, Jeremy (28 June 2019). "Album Review: Kim Petras' 'Clarity'". Variety . Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  15. ↑ "Kim Petras | "Clarity"". Flaunt Magazine. Archived from the original on 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  16. ↑ "Bops Only: 10 Songs You Need to Start Your Weekend Right". Paper . 28 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  17. ↑ "50 Best Albums of 2019: Staff Picks". Billboard. December 10, 2019. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  18. ↑ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon (2019-12-05). "Best Albums of 2019". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  19. ↑ "The Best Pop Albums Of 2019". Uproxx. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  20. ↑ "Kim Petras Turns Up the Glam Factor for Galore Magazine". Fashion Gone Rogue. 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "Kim Petras Is A Glam Goddess In New Spread For 'Notion'". idolator. 5 July 2019.
  22. ↑ "Kim Petras Covers 'Gay Times' & Talks About Being A Transgender Artist". The Inquisitr. 26 June 2019. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  23. ↑ "Kim Petras | A Neon Rhinestone". Flaunt Magazine. Archived from the original on 2019-11-02. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  24. ↑ Perez, Ruben Jr. (10 May 2019). "Kim Petras On the May 2019 Cover of 'ATKODE' Magazine". Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  25. ↑ @kimpetras (June 28, 2019). "None of the songs were picked as the single" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 June 2019– via Twitter.
  26. ↑ "Kim Petras Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Kim Petras Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Kim Petras: Chart History - Top Current Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
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