Mikaela Straus, better known by her stage name of King Princess, is a 20 year old, up-and-coming LGBTQIA* icon in the music industry. She identifies as genderqueer and gay, and her songs inspire the community with her lyrics about her relationships with women and her experience as a young gay individual. She writes about her relationships unapologetically and often makes sure to use “she” pronouns when discussing her partners to emphasize representation in the music community. King Princess was made famous by the major success of her song “1950,” which references LGBTQIA* history and ties it to her own relationship in the modern day. Following her quick rise to fame, King Princess released an EP, “Make My Bed,” which included “1950.”

On Oct. 25, King Princess released her anticipated first album “Cheap Queen.” As a fan of this artist, I anticipated the drop of her first full length album.

One of my favorite songs, “Prophet,” has an amazing beat to match its clever lyrics. King Princess’ voice is what I would like to describe as “sexy angst” in this particular song, as she sings about her experience rising to fame quickly in the music industry and how her girlfriend cares a lot about the money and popularity that comes with it. Meanwhile, King Princess is left in awe of her, but knows that she is being used by her partner in some ways.

We continue with the album’s namesake: “Cheap Queen.” In the music video, this song is also prefaced with the short, but catchy song “Useless Phrases,” which probably won’t get the credit it deserves because of its length. “Cheap Queen” is an iconic song because of the cheeky chorus which includes the line, “I can make grown men cry.” This song seems a bit different than the rest due to the unique, almost ethereal sound of its chorus, which contrasts with the deep, smooth voice she uses in the rest of the song. I can see how this might not appeal to everyone, because its sound is less mainstream than some of the others and is definitely more of an acquired taste. However, I still recommend it if you’re into alternative pop!

The weakest part of the album to me is definitely “Isabel’s Moment.” It was pretty, but I found it to be uninteresting and boring. While most songs on the album are great for putting on repeat or dancing to, this one doesn’t have an exciting hook to keep me engaged. This is not a song I’d recommend, and the song is honestly quite forgettable.

This wouldn’t be complete without recommending “Hit the Back.” What starts with a slow, sensual vibe quickly shifts into one of the most upbeat songs on the album with a defined beat and notes that flow together beautifully in each verse. (Note: There is a video of King Princess dancing a routine to this song, so be sure to check that out too.)

Some of the other songs from the album I will have on repeat for a long time include “Ain’t Together,” “Trust Nobody” and “Tough on Myself.” I’m very excited that King Princess finally made a full-length album, and while there were definitely some songs that were better than others or needed a second listen to really get into, I can’t wait to hear more from King Princess in the future.

https://open.spotify.com/album/00uqjqwLruO346z3cNlNqG