Wonder Woman is the debut EP from East Texas artist D’Lee. Released on October 3rd, these tracks are energetic, heartfelt, and comforting, with expressive vocals and a fiery spirit that are impossible not to love.
The opening track “Kissing Frogs” begins with an edgy guitar solo, followed by D’Lee’s powerful vocals. Through lines that reference multiple classic stories, D’Lee sings an empowering track about waiting for love after numerous disappointments. She sings “I dreamed of fairytales where love would set me free, but it seems I’m stuck in this pond with no guarantee.” D’Lee also relates to so many women with lines like “I’ve kissed so many frogs and they’re all the same.” “Kissing Frogs” is a song about knowing your worth and not stopping until you get it. She tells all of her listeners not to settle for less than what they know they’re worth.
In “Cinderella”, D’Lee shows just how iconic she is. “Cinderella” preaches that sometimes, the most productive thing you can do for yourself is to take a day off to do your favorite things. D’Lee sings “Trade my gown for my jeans and t-shirt, even Cinderella needs a day off from work.” This song is dance-worthy and fun, and will no doubt get so many people singing along. D’Lee is smart and independent and looks good doing it- “Gonna be my own queen, cuz even Cinderella gets to live her dream.”
In the EP’s title track “Wonder Woman”, D’Lee slows down and rewinds to tell listeners where she came from and what she had to go through in the years leading up to her career. “Oh, she wanted to grow up and be strong. Be like the heroes she admired for so long…she’s the real wonder woman.” This track is powerful and fun all at the same time. D’Lee sends a message that’s so powerful in light of recent events- that all women are strong and have inherent worth.
If D’Lee is powerful in the first half of her EP, in the second half, she’s completely unstoppable. In “Better Than Bitter”, a track that opens with a spiritual piano solo, followed by a gritty guitar entrance and raspy vocals, D’Lee shows her strength through her sound. This song is the hype-up track so many of us need. D’Lee sings “I’ve been through the darkness… I’m gonna shine.” and “Got a fire in my soul and it’s such a thrill”, repeatedly playing on themes of darkness and light to showcase how hard times can make us stronger and more ourselves.
D’Lee’s personality shines bright all throughout her music. Every song on this EP has me cheering her on. “Chasing Dreams” is the second to last track on the EP, and in it, D’Lee sings about her trials to prove herself in her life and career- “With every step she takes, she proves the doubters wrong.” Damn right, she does.
This EP was genuinely such a joy. D’Lee’s bio says her goal is to spread “love, hope, and joy”, and she does it so well. I can’t wait to see where she goes from here.
Reviewed by Steph Stone
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