Alessia Cara’s latest album, Love & Hyperbole, dropped on Valentine’s Day, and it is such a treat. This album dives into all the ups and downs of love, mixing her usual R&B sound with some cool jazz and rock influences. The instrumentals feel rich and full, especially on songs like ‘Dead Man’, where the trumpets and drums give it a jazzy, almost live performance vibe. You can tell that recording these songs with live instruments brought a new energy to them.
Cara’s lyrics strike a chord like no one else’s. She gets personal, singing about everything from the thrill of falling for someone to the doubts that creep in. ‘(Isn’t It) Obvious’ really captures the struggle of long-distance relationships, singing: “My picture in your wallet on display / But it’s never the same / As layin’ close to you (I know).” These lyrics make the song feel so relatable. Her voice is as powerful as ever, shifting between strong belting moments and softer, more intimate ones that pull you in.
Each track tells its story, showing different sides of love and relationships. Some songs feel light and hopeful, while others are more introspective and bittersweet. ‘Run Run’ plays with the theme of self-sabotage, where the lyrics feel hyperbolic yet steady, balancing the fear of losing something good with the intensity of emotions that come with it. Meanwhile, ‘Nighttime Thing’ and ‘Slow Motion’ were some of the more challenging songs for her to write, as they took on different forms before falling into place, and you can hear that complexity in the layers of production and melody. The mix of styles keeps the album fresh and exciting, like how love can be unpredictable. Overall, there’s a sense of growth in her lyrics; she talks a lot about trusting herself and overcoming self-doubt, which many people can relate to.
During a recent press conference, Cara opened up about the creative process behind Love & Hyperbole. She talked about how she always associates colours with music, and red felt like the perfect shade to represent the album—warm, rich, and a more mature version of herself. When asked which song felt most personal, she chose ‘Fire,’ as it marked the first time she wrote a love song free of fear or negativity. She admitted she used to find it easier to write about heartbreak than happiness, so this song felt like a big shift for her. ‘Fire’ can be best described as a passionate ballad symbolising intense emotions in a relationship. The combination of a piano and guitar creates a lullaby-like sound, reflecting blissfully falling in love. It’s one of the more emotional songs on the album.
Recording this album was a different experience too. Cara shared she recorded almost 90% of it live with musicians, including an orchestra, string players, and a horn section. She thrived on their energy, creating music as she had envisioned. She also delved into new themes, such as ageing and life’s impermanence, topics she admitted were difficult but essential to process. At the press conference, she acknowledged how difficult it is sometimes to navigate the fear of time passing. “Right now, I’m the youngest I’ll ever be and the oldest I’ve ever been,” Cara said. She added how this feeling makes it hard sometimes to stay present. She discovered that themes such as getting older and death as well made her more anxious than before.
Another cool detail is that John Mayer plays a guitar solo on ‘(Isn’t It) Obvious’. Cara said she was in total disbelief when he agreed to be on the song since he’s one of her biggest idols. Initially, he was hesitant to include the solo because he thought it might be too much, but she was all for it. Speaking of collaborations, Cara shared that she’s always been a bit shy about asking other artists to work with her, despite having featured on so many of their songs.
As for the album’s cover, she explained that the two versions of herself holding each other represent the album’s duality. It’s all about trust—not just in love but in life itself. That theme runs through a lot of the songs. Cara mentioned that cutting the tracklist down from 46 to just 14 songs was difficult, but she focused on picking the ones that felt the most essential to the story she wanted to tell.
Ultimately, Love & Hyperbole captures all the messy, beautiful, and dramatic feelings that come with love. Alessia opens up about her journey, from learning to trust herself more to realising that love should make you feel bigger, not smaller. This album marks her most personal and mature work yet, and whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering her music: There’s something in it that will resonate with you. Do you feel like catching Alessia Cara on tour? She is starting her tour in April in the United States, and afterwards, she will also visit Asia, Australia, and Europe. Find a city close to you here.
Written by: Maud Hoebers
Edited by: Ilse Muis
