Music has always been a way for artists to speak their minds regardless of age. We have seen many examples of teenagers who have not been afraid to express themselves and rose to fame musically because of it. From Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated” to Lorde with her anti-materialism anthem ”Royals”, 2015 has seen many young artists in the spotlight. Alessia Cara is one of them and her debut EP Four Pink Walls was nothing short of phenomenal.

Alessia Cara, known for her Youtube covers of popular songs, especially Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie”, isn’t one of those YouTubers who moves to music with tacky half-hearted songs. Her debut album Four Pink Walls is no other than your typical teenage album, however, every aspect of teenage life is described tastefully, from love to parties to being young. The EP is full of personality and Cara has done a great job at giving us a taste of her music, leaving us craving more. The 19-year-old Canadian pop star’s voice shines through all five tracks.

The EP opens with “Seventeen”, an adorable song with melodies that contain a common message: “Now I wish I could freeze the time at seventeen,” meaning that, when we were young, we wanted to grow up, but while on the verge of adulthood, we wish we could freeze time. Compared to the rest of the EP, this track lacks that little edge necessary to stand out, but it is still extremely strong on its own and that says a lot about the cohesiveness of this EP.

“Here”, the second track, is her most popular song and the absolute highlight of the EP. It is definitely a party song, but not the shallow kind in which people spend five minutes singing about how cool and rich they are. The song speaks volumes for a different kind of crowd: the shy kids, the loners, the introverts, and the unenthusiastic party-goers who are only there because their friends are going. “Excuse me if I seem a little unimpressed with this/An antisocial pessimist, but usually I don’t mess with this.” The thumping beat combined with her effortless natural flow and the ruthlessly true lyrics makes “Here” an anthem for all wallflowers. “Honestly I’d rather be/Somewhere with my people, we can kick it and just listen to/Some music with a message, (Like we usually do)/And we’ll discuss our big dreams, how we plan, to take over the planet”. Then comes a terrific middle eight that adds an extra explosiveness to the song, elevating it to a whole new level. “Here” is a combination of everything good about Alessia Cara.

The third track, “Outlaws,” is a simple and innocent love song with an old-school feel to it. Like “Seventeen”, “Outlaws” lacks that little edge that sets it aside, but it is still strong.

The last two tracks of the album are my favorites.

“I’m Yours” is extremely tuneful and catchy. The song describes a boy that is like “a shed of light that shone through the darkness”. From start to bottom, Alessia Cara takes us on an emotional rollercoaster of sympathy and happiness for her new found love. The way she sings “I used to be so used to boys just using me/For you to be you to me/Feels new to me/Cause I usually cheer for the bad side” just breaks my heart.

The final track, “Four Pink Walls”, was a last minute addition, but it talks about the spark in her mind perfectly. This song is about change, about how her life used to be so simple, surrounded by the four pink walls in her bedroom to the point of remembering all the cracks in it. Now, she’s “Ms. Star on the Rise”, traveling around the world. She misses those simple days, and she misses her bedroom walls. I especially love the middle eight of both “I’m Yours” and “Four Pink Walls”, they are what makes these songs my favorite.

From the lyrics, to her flow, which is surprisingly good for a singer, to her emotions, Alessia Cara’s debut EP “Four Pink Walls” is more than enough to be a contender for one of the best music releases this year. She is new, she isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and she definitely has an enormous amount of potential, both artistically and commercially (let’s be real, whoever can do “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse justice, knows what they are doing with music). I don’t know about you, but I absolutely cannot wait to hear her first full length album.