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Holy Fvck, Demi Lovato’s new music, is a definite break from her pop R&B past. And ‘Holy Fvck’ does Demi’s new album- her 8th studio album - released today - leave you really quite exhausted, but in a really good way. It’s powerful, chaotic, full-on, full-throttle head-banging, smashing things up, angsty pop punk - with pretty much every track resulting in some kind of rock out, bellowing chorus. There’s even an appearance from her fellow Disney alumni, Yungblud in the opening track, Freak, which contributes to the whole brilliant audial assault.
She - Demi recently announced that she was now using she/her pronouns again as well as they/them after declaring themselves non-binary in 2021 - is angry, funny, candid, revealing and, it seems…in love.
It also can’t be avoided that she very much seems to be channeling Courtney Love and Hole in a lot of her sound, both vocally and in the crashing cymbal heavy drums and wild relentless, electric guitar rants.
This is a new edgy Demi Lovato and we’re here for it. Although as some have pointed out, Demi has always been a lot edgier than her public, Disney-honed persona would have us believe indicating an interest in metal as early as 2008.
It feels fitting that as she’s entering a new era musically, the album is released the day before her 30th birthday. This seems like a shedding of her pop, Jonas brother-produced Disney child star past, along with the demons and near-death experiences of the past decade and the dawn of a whole new era of Demi: one where they embrace every element of who they, who they have been and who they will be and really, really shout about it.
1.There’s a lot of channelling (musically) of Courtney Love going on.
The opening tracks, Freak and especially Skin of my Teeth are super reminiscent of Nineties alternative rock band Hole, led by feminist icon Courtney Love. Arguably many of tracks from their most famous 1998 album, Celebrity Skin is clearly an influence on Demi’s latest musical phase. Although stylistically don’t expect Demi to be donning satin baby doll dresses, tiaras and smudged makeup anytime soon. Nope, the Demi Holy Fvck aesthetic is all latex, leather and the longest talon-like nails you’ve ever seen.
2. Demi’s still wrestling with her demons.
It’s been a long journey for Demi in the past two decades. She nearly died from a drugs overdose in 2018. She has been candid about battles with every drug under the sun - including heroin - and opened up on last year’s powerful YouTube Originals Docu-Series, Dancing With The Devil about the true extent of her on-going journey to be rid of substance abuse and eating disorders. This album is no less candid. With tracks including Wasted, Substance and Feed all speaking to her demons. In Feed she sings: “My demons are on the hunt But my angels taught me how to run. I got two wolves inside of me But I decide which one to feed…”
“I can't say that about my last album,” the singer told Jimmy Fallon.
3. Demi is sober.
The opening line of Skin of My Teeth seems to mock tabloid reports on her sobriety when she deadpans “Demi leaves rehab again”. It seems since her latest stint in rehab, believed to be after the release of Dancing With The Devil she has remained sober. And she’s proud of it, singing in Wasted: “Im wiser and older, Im clean and I’m sober’ but in Happy Ending, she laments: “Sure I am sober now and everybody’s proud, but I miss the vices’
4. She’s tackling some past relationship trauma.
‘29’ appears to be calling out her ex, Wilmer Valderrama, whom she dated on and off from the age of 18 for six years. (Although they met when she was 17.) The internet is already rife with speculation that the lyrics “you’re twelve years her elder, maybe it doesn’t matter, but I know f*cking better Now I know f*cking better ‘cause I’m Finally twenty-nine” are Demi reflecting on the fact that a 12 year age difference when one of the pair is a teenager is perhaps not the greatest.
5. Demi likes to swear.
See above. See album title. See pretty much most tracks.
“For me, it's just about like feeling human at your core”.
6. Demi is funny.
There are some great lyrics that make you properly lol, the aforementioned sardonic opening line of Skin of My Teeth and in Substance she asks: “Is anybody happy with life in the backseat, trying to master the art of detachment I know we’re all fucking exhausted, am I in my head or have we all lost it? While contemplating modern life. (This track also gives me vague recollections of Green Day’s 1994 hit, Basket Case.)
7. Demi is in love. The final track - my favourite on the album - 4ever4me is a love letter to a man. She sings beautifully of barriers coming down, coming undone and how she can’t wait to ‘hug and thank’ his mother. Demi is reportedly dating fellow musician, Jutes (aka Jordan Lutes) who also collaborated on the album with her. While no official comment has yet been made by either party (apart from some Instagram gushings) the lyrics “I can’t hold back, I’m falling in ove It’s been right on the tip of my tongue So here I go speaking honestly I think this is forever for me” seem to say it all. What a great start to a new decade and a new era for Demi Lovato.
Happy Birthday Demi!
