With her new single “Ricochet,” zekiizo sharpens her dark-pop instincts into something confrontational and self-possessed. The track plays like a declaration of boundaries, transforming defensiveness into confidence and rage into momentum. It is playful, aggressive, and deliberate in equal measure, leaning into hardness not as a flaw but as a source of power.
“Ricochet” thrives on contrast. Its sleek, electronic foundation gives the song a sense of control, while zekiizo’s vocal delivery introduces tension through restraint and bite. She sings with a knowing edge, projecting authority without raising her voice. The production remains tight and intentional, allowing space for lyrics that feel less like confession and more like warning. When the track pushes forward, it does so with precision rather than excess, reinforcing the idea that power does not need to announce itself loudly to be felt.
Lyrically, zekiizo frames emotional self-protection as an active stance rather than a retreat. Lines like “I can take it down four notches if you wanted to” flip expectations of softness and accommodation, turning restraint into a flex. The song subtly toys with gender roles, reversing traditional dynamics of dominance and submission. There is a sense that the narrator is fully aware of the performance taking place and is choosing to exaggerate it, using hardness as armor and spectacle at once.
That awareness aligns with the broader themes in zekiizo’s work, which often blurs sincerity and provocation. Based in New York City after emerging from Boston’s DIY scene, she has built a reputation for genre-defying releases that pull from electronic, indie, and experimental pop traditions. As a self-produced artist, her music carries a distinct sense of authorship. Every decision feels intentional, from the pacing of her delivery to the calculated tension embedded in the song’s structure.
What makes “Ricochet” resonate is how it frames rage as clarity rather than chaos. The song does not ask for sympathy or resolution. Instead, it embraces the moment when patience runs out and something harder takes its place. In a pop landscape that often rewards vulnerability only when it is softened or sanitized, zekiizo allows anger to exist without apology.
“Ricochet” positions her not just as a rising dark-pop presence, but as an artist unafraid to claim power on her own terms, even when that power feels sharp, relentless, and unapologetic.
Featured Images: Artist Supplied
