Shoshana Ami - Pretty Liar (2021)

In 2021, amid the pandemic, singer-songwriter Shoshana Ami released her debut album, Pretty Liar. Because of the circumstances, Pretty Liar was never promoted and flew under the radar. Shoshana decided to revisit the album,

Speaking about the album, Shoshana says, “The album is me. Different parts of me, both real and imagined. It also incorporates experiences that other women have shared. In many places, it centers around a character who is in fantasy and is resisting an imposing reality. Tracks such as ‘Pretty Liar,’ the album’s title, highlight a thematic darkness – the abandonment of a child that leads to creating a false self as protection.”

She goes on, “Some of the songs wrote themselves – I swear they did. ‘The Electric Show’ was one – I didn’t even understand what it meant at first. It has an innocent idealism about it which I was surprised by – and yet I feel is necessary for me to hold on to.”

Growing up in Brooklyn, Shoshana immersed herself in music, listening to classical music along with Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and John Coltrane. When she was 14, she bought her first electric guitar, taught herself Led Zeppelin riffs, and explored her own music.

Years and career as an actress later, she found her way back to music, attending workshops for songwriters led by my mentor and producer Tony Conniff. There she shared her songs, shaking so hard she almost dropped her guitar. She kept shaking and writing music.

According to Shoshana, “This album is inspired by so many events: my whole life in the larger sense, and more specifically by the sudden death of both of my parents right after I was married, as well as the birth of my daughter. Being a mother cracked me open and made me realize that the most important gift I could give to my daughter was to risk doing the thing I’m most passionate about, without thought to how it’s received.”

Of the 10 tracks on Pretty Liar, entry points include “My Affection,” an alt-pop tune with hints of retro flavors that give it a warm vibrancy. There’s a unique, delicious texture to Shoshana’s vocals, melodic yet delicate, imbuing the lyrics with singular coloration.

The light, shimmering motion of the title track provides listeners with a tasty melodic concoction, highlighting Shoshana’s phrasing and delivery. A personal favorite because of its syncopated-lite rhythm and Shoshana’s neatly edgy timbers, “Back Together” exudes an aura of yearning emotional sensations.

Another gem, “Different” features an alluring, swaying rhythm topped by low-slung, velvety harmonics and the evocative voice of Shoshana, imbuing the lyrics with tinges of exotic savors. “The Electric Show” closes the album with bright, gleaming surfaces, ebbing, and rising with charming energy as Shoshana’s vocals elevate the tune to sumptuous levels of joie de vivre.

With Pretty Liar, Shoshana Ami uses her distinctive vocals to separate the album from today’s run-of-the-mill alt-pop music.