Precipice is an album born in response to life hitting like a hurricane—quite literally, in Indigo De Souza’s case. In September 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated the songwriter’s North Carolina home and workspace. After raising over $30K on GoFundMe to rebuild her house and community space, she got to work on the follow-up to 2023’s warmly received All of This Will End. The result is 31 minutes of danceable resilience—11 tracks of pounding drums and anthemic synths designed to navigate heartache, healing, and growth. Good fun, in other words.
A clever pop album at heart, Precipice leans further away from the scrappy indie guitar work of earlier efforts. Teaming up with Elliott Kozel—a musician who has produced and collaborated with the likes of SZA and Yves Tumor—Precipice sees De Souza breaking down her mental struggles and transform them into something listeners can rally behind. On standout track “Heartthrob,” she bares all with lyrics like “God, when I’m a grown-up / I wanna have a full cup.” Despite the darkness in the sentiment, it’s a snarling track, driven by throbbing bass lines that demand movement. Its aim is simple: to help you push through the heaviness.
Even with its relatively short runtime, De Souza wisely slows the pace at the midpoint with the gorgeous “Dinner.” Built around spare piano, snippets and field recordings, it offers a welcome breather that reveals the record’s deep tenderness. With a healthy dose of country music showing up everywhere these days, it’s no surprise De Souza leans fully into the Nashville sound on “Heartbreaker.” A straightforward breakup song, the country mold fits the track’s themes perfectly. It’s a total earworm and a perfect listen for fans of Waxahatchee.
The glitchy, 80s-tinged “Pass It By” proves the album’s least convincing moment. Preceded by tracks filled with vulnerability or full-throttle passion, this brief number feels both messy and slightly disposable. It’s not an outright clunker, just a small bump in an otherwise smooth ride. But all is forgiven with the beautiful closing title track. Emotive and intricately textured, it invites you to close your eyes and picture a crowd swaying, phones or lighters held high. It’s a direct hit to the heart, and it lands perfectly.
In a scene increasingly filled with artists repackaging the fuzzed-out, dreamy tones of the ’90s, De Souza’s pivot toward something more pop-adjacent is both bold and wise. With Precipice, she’s equipped herself with the tools to craft something grander, yet still taut and personal. The album also opens countless new avenues for her to explore moving forward. This is a record for those who want their sing-alongs to carry weight and personality. Or for anyone who prefers their singer-songwriters to feel genuinely inviting. It’s an exciting new chapter in Indigo De Souza’s journey, and a damn fine listen from start to finish.
CONE Score: 78/100
Byline: Sam Walker-Smart