An ever-emotionally devoted Stephon Foster returns this season with a deeply moving, revealing and personal single – one that incidentally delivers perhaps the best vocal sound and melodic progression from the artist yet. Therapy connects for its raw, unapologetic detailing of trauma, and the awakening climb towards overcoming.
Featuring a simple lo-fi blend of keys and subtle rhythms, alongside layers of voice but a single vocal lead for the most part, Therapy feels like a well-written RnB meets soul-pop track – infused with dashes of trip hop for that truly immersive, late-night vibe.
The vocals are beautiful, the short lines feel like classic songwriting, before veering off for that essential twist of unpredictable expression that is the Stephon Foster way. And always we resolve back to this hook concept, our protagonist declaring ‘I need therapy’ before openly asking the audience if they ‘feel me?’.
The later repeat and fade out from ‘Because I feel nobody is listening’ is particularly powerful following that inclusive development. There’s a strangely joyful edge to this moment, which elevates the idea in a way that’s easy to relate to.
Defining personal turmoil after losing a parent alongside a string of broken relationships, Therapy showcases vulnerability and honesty in both performance and lyric, but also maintains a vague enough air of intention to be made the listener’s own. That balance works beautifully.
Almost certainly the strongest and most memorable release from Stephon Foster to date. Therapy recrafts the modern sound and blesses listeners with authenticity and depth. I can’t wait to hear more.
