Nicole Obarzanek stands out by baring her soul on her revealing new single "Toxic." Soaked in susceptibility and punctuated by mood-swinging production, this is a heart-wrenching roller coaster through the feels, from the first bar to the last breath. Its appeal is that "Toxic" never tries to be anything but raw, honest, and resonant. Nicole Obarzanek isn't hiding behind metaphor or overproduction. She leans into the pain and allows it to gush out in a way that's almost excruciatingly soothing.
The production is sleek and contemporary, but a smoky darkness lurks beneath the surface, making " Toxic " a compelling song. The unambiguous centerpiece is Nicole's vocal performance. She slides naturally between a soft vulnerability and a commanding intensity, which is evident in the way she delivers every line with an honesty that sounds achingly personal. Her delivery has a quiet power, an unspoken sense that she's been through the flames and come out on the other side with a tale.
The lyrics detail the sickened beauty of love gone wrong, when the line between passion and poison becomes agonizingly blurred. But instead of being reduced to the drama, Nicole rises off the floor in body-hugging Yeezy separates, proud of her agency. Her voice tells not just a story of heartbreak but of rising, of becoming aware of what we permit and what we are worth. "Toxic" is a slow burn and, as such, has some staying power
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