Annie Omalley’s love affair with music started before she could even read the labels on her parents’ vinyls. At five, while other kids were playing with action figures or dressing up their dolls, she was fantasizing about stepping into a real recording studio — the kind with that soft, almost sacred hum of machinery, the faint smell of old leather couches, and soundboards that looked like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Years later, after a winding journey of self-discovery, Annie Omalley began to peel back the layers of who she was — the person under all the expectations, the doubts, and, more than anything, the shame she carried about her own identity. For a long time, she felt like she had to fit into some predefined mold, as if there was a “right” way to be an artist, a “right” way to sound, look, and even feel. That nagging voice of self-criticism? It stuck around far longer than it should have. But eventually, Annie learned to quiet it, or at least stop letting it hold the mic.

The new album ‘all the things that skare me‘ is about giving your inner child the love it always deserved and about understanding that the monsters under the bed are just parts of the subconscious, broken and scared. The songs on this album perfectly fit the Omalley’s unique style, which she calls “temper tantrum pop” — emotionally charged pop music. The album consists of 14 tracks that tell the story of the challenging journey of self-discovery. To start, “all the things that skare me” seems to be divided into three parts, each part unique in its emotional coloring and content.

Photo by SAM MOOUSE

The opening title track “all the things that skare me” immediately sets the tone for everything that follows. It is followed by “2gether 4ever,” “break up partie,” celebrations & obsessive thaughts,” and “road raje.” Together, these tracks form the first part of the album, and you can hear hints of innocence and echoes of childhood dreams. When you believe that monsters under the bed are real but also think that a single “Boo!” from you will scare them away. There is something almost serene in these songs. The tracks are set against a backdrop of light beatmaps and melodic synths, energetic drums, and wave-like layers of melodies that transition into moments of endless toned rhythm. The first part has no burden — just freedom, and sometimes even an immature attitude towards reality. Annie plays with sound as if she is conducting her own emotional storm. Each new element — be it drums, vocal harmonies, or sound effects — appears exactly when needed, enhancing the dynamics of the songs.

But with the first chords of “diskovering why,” there is a sharp turn. The second part of the album is a awakening. In my opinion, this part reflects a period when the world suddenly becomes too big for Annie, and answers to questions are not always on the surface. In this part, starting with the swaying “sundaze,” the smooth “klose the door,” the dynamic “ao627lk710,” and ending with the melancholic “sobure,” Annie is different — there is self-analysis. She explores her fears, breaks them down into pieces, and tries to piece them back together. In these songs, there is a sincere desire to understand why things are the way they are. The music becomes richer, with elements of chaos reflecting the search for love for her inner child, contemplating what comes next. It is time to take a pause, look back at the path taken, and rethink priorities.

Photo by SAM MOOUSE

This is especially important when you reach the third part of the album, where everything rushes towards the finish line.

The culmination comes in the final tracks “plot twystt” and “luckie,” which sound like a soft, barely perceptible victory. Their atmosphere and the multilayered melodies carry a clear message that “not all questions need answers.” The music becomes calmer and conveys a sense of maturity. Interestingly, the pain that was evident in the second part now fades into the background. Instead of euphoria, wisdom appears, allowing one to see the world as it is and to find a place for love within it. The love Annie worked on this album with can be felt in every note, but the final track “obstakles dissipate” somehow shines with this love in a special way. The sound waves, rhythm, and vocal performance sparkle, creating a true oasis of feelings. The final song of the entire album is the moment when all barriers disappear, leaving only unconditional love.

The album “all the things that skare me” sounds like a monologue of a person who has gone through a variety of emotions, experiences, and trials and has finally found themselves. Annie has triumphed over her fears and loved her inner child. Listening to the album, I clearly felt that Annie, through her songs, is mastering the art of transformation, which made her emotional state understandable to me.

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