Alaska Reid
Disenchanter
LUMINELLE
If you ask LA-based songwriter Alaska Reid what kind of music she makes, she’ll likely tell you “mountain pop”—a unique term which came to fruition on the artist’s debut EP Big Bunny released back in 2020. Straddling the line between indie rock, pop, and country music, mountain pop is Reid’s own brand of idiosyncrasy that sees her songs immersed in a completely ethereal plane. Big Bunny was a project that spoke to Reid’s burgeoning maturity and the quick growth that occurs when entering your early twenties, serving as the perfect prelude to her debut album Disenchanter, an exploration of finding a sense of place that sees mountain pop ramped up to its most euphoric potential.
Among the first singles to be released from the album was “She Wonders,” one of Disenchanter’s strongest moments which fully dives into the cathartic potential of Reid’s sound. An electric ripple of guitar dominates the track as if blazing a trail in the night’s sky, while the synths and other small textural details are all too effective at transporting the listener to a whole other realm. The track sees Reid encouraging someone to be their honest self, elevating these small moments of intimacy into crucial moments of clarity. The otherworldly nature of the track could easily be seen as a metaphor for the connection between two people and the excitement of jumping into new experiences when you’re young.
Reid has often worked alongside producer A.G. Cook, who boasts production credits on Caroline Polachek and Charli XCX’s work. The former’s artistry is much more abstract, whereas Charli’s music tends to be more maximalist. Disenchanter has a healthy mixture of both—with Reid having previously supported both artists on tour it would appear as if their respective styles have rubbed off on her. “Back to This” is a euphoric rush of endorphins where a halo of sparkled synths dance above Reid’s head. On the other end of the spectrum there’s the guttural, glitch-laden “Dogs & Girls,” which borders on hyperpop.
In spite of its instrumental sheen “Dogs & Girls” struggles to maintain a concise narrative, while the metaphor of escape in “Seeds” is a little too far-fetched to land with enough emotional resonance. Yet Disenchanter is still full of engrossing stories that speak to Reid’s ever-growing maturity. She often finds herself in the position of wanting to help others after learning from her own experiences, and when writing about romance she manages to capture the connection of rushing heartbeats, the thrills and the pits of letting people into your life.
Reid’s songwriting embeds plenty of personal touches while blending them with fictional characters, resulting in vivid storytelling that never gives too much away. Mountain pop combines the lyrical focus of country music with the galaxy-searching textures of alternative pop music, and it ultimately makes Disenchanter a thrilling debut statement.
