LOS ANGELES, CA- Three months ago, I wrote about Blessing Jolie’s debut single “Frown Lines” and praised it as “a slow-burn blend of folk and R&B, carried by that velvety tone and an undercurrent of lyrical complexity.” That track introduced her as an artist willing to be both clever and vulnerable, letting her voice carry the weight of her words with understated production.
Now with “20teens” (out via Thirty Tigers), Jolie kicks down the door with something louder, sharper, and packed with pop-punk edge. It’s an intentional pivot, trading slow-burn subtlety for electric energy, and it proves she’s not afraid to stretch into new terrain.
At the center, though, remains that voice… the one thing I can’t quit about Blessing Jolie. There’s just something undeniable about her vocal tone. It’s commanding without being over-sung, velvety but bracing, the kind of sound that lingers in your head long after the song ends. I couldn’t shake it on “Frown Lines,” and “20teens” only deepens that hold.
The lyrics cut like a knife. Lines like “No take backs, bitch take that / I won’t have 20teens in my bed” sting with defiance, while playful nods to Charmed and HBO Max give the track an immediacy that feels lived-in and true to her 23-year-old perspective. It’s the same lyrical cleverness that stood out on her debut, but this time set against a backdrop of crunchy guitars and driving percussion.
Blessing herself frames the track as a turning point: “I wrote it in a moment of clarity—when I started recognizing red flags and realized I don’t have to accept what I can’t tolerate. It’s another honest moment, one the song captures candidly.” That mix of raw honesty and punchy delivery makes “20teens” as cathartic as it is catchy.
Raised in Katy, Texas, the Nigerian American artist first caught attention with stripped-back guitar and vocal videos online. Thirty Tigers stepped in after her debut EP the girl next door, and with each release, she’s been carving a space that feels distinctly her own.
If “Frown Lines” introduced Blessing Jolie as a promising new voice, “20teens” proves she’s more than a one-off talent. It’s a statement of growth and defiance, but also a reminder of the throughline: that unforgettable voice I just can’t quit. With a full album on the horizon, Blessing Jolie is building momentum that I can’t wait to keep up with.
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