With an already impressive repertoire comprised of the stunning EPs 6 Of A Billion and BeVerly Hills BoYfRiEnd, alongside a plethora of single releases, Rosinkranz has aptly upped the ante. Boasting an impressive bakers-dozen of tracks, Just Because moves through alternative pop numbers, punk-infused lines, and stadium-worthy choruses in the most dazzling manner.
Opening cut “123” was originally released in 2022 and sits as the debut offering from the record. Diving in with breezy and wispy vocals, Rosinkranz creates an amalgamation of spoken-word and melodic hip-hop style vocalisations in a truly irresistible pop number. Starting off in the most buoyant and bubbly fashion, “123” surmises Rosinkranz’s career in the most perfect fashion – she starts as she means to go on.
In comparison, “Sad In Hawaii” hones in on a narrative of bad memories being associated with a place, tainting its beauty. Despite the melancholy message, '90s-inspired beats prevail throughout as Rosinkranz reflects on self-worth and overwhelming feelings of inadequacy; (“I'm feeling so, so close to the ground/ I'm at the bottom”, “Oh, how could I be feeling this blue?”). Featuring insistent basslines and an infectious vocal performance from Rosinkranz, “Sad In Hawaii” sits firmly as one of the most impressive feats on the record.
Third track “Never Goes Away” offers up the first peak into Rosinkranz’s ballad-esque repertoire. Still upbeat and funky, and filled with beat-keeping finger-snaps, she delivers a warning of the permanence of a social media presence (“Maybe it’s just a little better living in your brain / Instead of spilling it all out and leaving a permanent stain”) to her ever-growing gen-z audience. On the track, she notes “Most of the time, when you say something or put something out into the world, you can’t take it back. So be wise with your words and your actions. This song was inspired by my friend Hunter after he and I did a photoshoot, and he wrote little messages on the sides of the photos. One of the messages was about once something’s out you can’t take it back.”
“Screw Time” offers a relatable, metaphorical middle finger to the passing of time, and how quickly everything seems to whizz pass without so much as offering a second glance (“They say time flies but time just steals from me, stop turning all of my nights into memories”). The majority of Claire’s discography sees her bathing in teen bliss, but with “Screw Time” she stops and reflects on what was once in-the-moment euphoria, is now just a fleeting memory. Short and sweet at just over the two-minute mark, “Gum” carries on from “Screw Time” steeped in melancholy with sweeping vocalisations and delicate instrumentation as she carries on doting on the difficulty of holding onto moments - “and you’ll slip away like the test of my peppermint gum”.
Twin tracks “Banksy” and “Wes Anderson”, both named for their famous counterparts sit in direct contrast of eachother. Where the latter offers an upbeat infectious cut that begs to get over a failed relationship, the former finds roots in stripped-back sultry beats and reflecting on loneliness.
The penultimate offering, the jilty “Pools and Palm Trees” is a refreshing reflection on missing someone, where acoustic guitars dominate and demonstrate Claire’s overtly sunny disposition. She notes: “The song is about missing someone after going through a difficult situation, specifically missing someone who knows you very well and who always helps you feel better. But you can’t have them and can’t put that responsibility on them anymore”. Almost out of Billie Eilish’s playbook, album closer “Mess” offers echoing vocals, soft instrumentation and an overall airy soundscape that wouldn’t go amiss on Happier Than Ever.
Encompassed by idyllic summer narratives, teen romance, and delicately penned lyrics, Just Because is a truly sensational offering from Claire Rosinkranz.
