Naomi Scott’s Debut Album F.I.G Does Not Disappoint
Written by Daphne Bryant
From DCOM classic Lemonade Mouth to the live-action Aladdin, Naomi Scott’s roles have cemented themselves as cornerstones of my childhood. She’s someone I’ve inadvertently grown up with and grown to appreciate from afar. When my FYP became flooded with new music from her (and all kinds of videos made by fans who couldn’t stop gushing about it), I thought surely I must be imagining things. Who was this quirky superstar with bright red hair, releasing pop-R&B bangers that spoke to my soul? Where did this version of her come from?
Though F.I.G is Scott’s debut album, she’s been releasing singles, EPs and miscellaneous musical pursuits since the early 2010s. Let it be known that, while acting has taken the forefront of her career so far, Scott has a marvelous voice, striking musicality and an unquantifiable IT factor that makes turning away impossible. F.I.G, short for Fall Into Grace, nods both to her middle name and alludes to the themes of growth and self-discovery she explores throughout. With this album, Scott has returned to her first love—music—and crafted a nuanced project that does not disappoint. Why now? In an interview with Ones to Watch, Scott explains that she“ wanted to go back to the girl who just wrote songs on the piano not knowing if it was cool or not and not caring.” Her journey hasn’t been linear by any means, but I sure am glad we’ve ended up here.
F.I.G is a groovy, sophisticated record infused with nostalgic, funkadelic synths, beautiful harmonies, and introspective lyricism, complete with the perfect features and outros I wish never ended. What I think Scott has created here is atmosphere. As opposed to belting or over-doing it with the instrumentation, Scott exhibits hypnotizing restraint and works to create an intimate, personal, and honest experience with the listener. It’s the perfect no-skips album for the spring (and summer)!
After listening to F.I.G in full, I ran to Scott’s website and got a ticket to see her sing at The Roxy in WeHo this year. And...not to peer pressure you too hard, but you should also totally snag a ticket ;)
