October is the month of change—it’s growing colder and the leaves are changing. More importantly, we’re expanding our playlists and broadening our musical horizons. It seems as if artists in all genres are releasing new music in this season of change, and this rings true especially for up-and-coming R&B artist Summer Walker.

On Oct. 4, Walker released her debut studio album “Over It”. The album comes off of her successful commercial mixtape, released in 2018. In her breakout single—also on the album—“Girls Need Love (Remix)” which features Drake, Walker set the tone for the album to come. Her emotional and raw lyrics speak on her desire for love and attention, while also commenting on the stigma surrounding women who are sex-positive, saying “Girls can’t never say they want it / Girls can’t never say how / Girls can’t never say they need it / Girls can’t never say now.” This precursor sets the tone, and the album follows through and then some.

The album, like her mixtape, focuses on Walker’s thoughts on love and relationships in a way that is reminiscent of ‘90s R&B slow jams and love songs. Sampling the work of older songs in the genre, Walker takes these older classics and manipulates them, bringing them up to speed to 2019’s tastes and emotions and turning them into something that’s unique to her voice and message.

Across the album, Walker’s songs feature big names in the industry, including Bryson Tiller, 6LACK, PARTYNEXTDOOR, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Jhene Aiko and Drake. The addition of these artists doesn’t overshadow Walker’s work; it actually highlights her music and puts a spotlight on her talent as being able to hold her own against these musical giants.

For instance, Walker samples Usher’s 1997 hit “You Make Me Wanna…” on her song “Come Thru.” The song, which features Usher as well, takes the emotions and sentiments of his song and converts them to a feminine perspective. With the added percussive beats, “Come Thru” is brought to a modern height, putting it in the same vein as other songs in the genre. Walker brings a fresh take to the song with this approach, and it’s an approach that works in her favor as you listen to the album.

But the most powerful song on the album is “I’ll Kill You” featuring Jhene Aiko. In this number, she and Aiko reveal the strength of the unconditional love and devotion to their partner that they would bring to the table, singing, “I’ve been waiting so long for a love like this.” It’s a favorite of mine, not only because of the powerhouse duo that Walker and Aiko make, but also because of the way the instrumentals and vocals make the song feel candy sweet, even while they’re singing, “I’ll go to Hell or jail ‘bout you, boy” over and over again and when Aiko comes in with the lyrics, “Don’t want no problems, I wish a b—- would.”

Summer Walker’s “Over It” combines sultry and sensual vocals and suggestive lyrics with social commentary, creating an experience that is both refreshing and scintillating. She is the artist we didn’t know we needed, and now that we have her, we should never let her go. This album proves that Walker is here to stay and that she is not one you can sweep under the rug. We won’t be forgetting about Summer Walker.