ALDRA’s version of “Paradise” puts firm boundaries first. Look underneath the feathery pop of her new single, and you’ll find an unbothered mindset, paired with a message for Internet trolls and other instigators: There’s no room for your b.s. in utopia.
The Somerville singer-songwriter kills ’em with kindness in her new song “Paradise,” which dropped last Friday (June 24) in preparation for her forthcoming EP Quicksilver. “Paradise” finds ALDRA floating through a space that’s untouched by society’s burdensome expectations, as her sweetness silences those eager to offer unsolicited opinions about how she “should” be living.
“I feel we consistently live with expectations thrust upon [us],” ALDRA tells Vanyaland. “I have expectations to be a proper lady, I have expectation to act a certain way as a Black woman, I have expectation as to how to contribute to society. I think expectations come all the time, from everywhere, so there is no specific moment [of inspiration] other than life itself.”
“Keep all your useless opinions / Cuz they’re not for me / They’re for you, friend,” she croons on the pre-chorus, perfecting the art of cheerful dismissal.
Hey, it’s ALDRA’s paradise. She’ll tell you to buzz off however she wants to. Press play on her happy place below.