Joyce Olong’s SOSEO doesn’t just ask to be heard, it invites one to enter a space where queerness is not a spectacle but a lived, tender truth. The “Afro Independent” singer’s album is a soft sanctuary carved out in sound, a quiet rebellion against the noise of mainstream narratives that too often erase or overlook queer experience. SOSEO is less about grand declarations and more about the subtle power of vulnerability, a deeply personal journey toward authenticity that resonates far beyond identity.
Right from “M.I.B.”, Olong sets the tone with a voice that feels both intimate and fearless. The track feels like stepping into a hidden room filled with whispered confessions and gentle truths. It’s a story of transformation, a shedding of past selves, told without fanfare but with unmistakable courage. Her vocals linger, delicate and full of layered meaning—offering a glimpse into the complexity of queer existence, one marked by both struggle and grace.
With “Engine,” the album finds its quiet momentum. The song pulses like a heart steadying itself after trauma, carrying a sense of resilience that refuses to be loud or aggressive. Instead, it is a warm embrace, a reminder that movement forward can be soft, deliberate, and deeply rooted in self-love.
“WWYD?” asks a simple question— ” What Would You Do With That Waistline”. The lightness of the melody belies the weight of the question, making it a moment of playful yet profound self-reflection. The groovy and sensual track captures a queer desire for freedom and authenticity.
“Fool Me Once” and “Bebe” together form the emotional core of SOSEO. The former channels the sting of betrayal, perhaps from relationships complicated by secrecy or misunderstanding, but Olong refuses to let hurt define her. Instead, there’s a poised resilience in her voice, a refusal to harden despite pain. ‘Fool Me Once’ is the channel by which Olong makes a queerness known without apology as she croons lyrics like “She fool me once, no, no, no she won’t fool me again’. If it doesn’t hit one that this is not a conventional musing, then I don’t know what will.
“Bebe” is a tender ode to longing and love in all its queer complexity—a vulnerability that is neither soft nor weak but powerful in its honesty.
On “Everybody’s Outside,” Olong confronts the alienation that often shadows queer lives—the feeling of being on the margins while the world carries on in performative normalcy. The song’s gentle rhythms and soulful delivery reflect both a quiet anger and a yearning for genuine connection with self.
“Heartstrings” is a poignant exploration of belonging and the delicate bonds that hold queer communities and chosen families together. Her voice threads through the instrumentation with a comforting intimacy, inviting listeners into a space of acceptance and healing.
Closing with “DIIISAPPEAR,” the album embraces the theme of disappearance not as loss but as a form of liberation—fading out of imposed identities to make room for authentic selfhood. The track’s ghostly production and tender lyrics leave us suspended in a moment of quiet transcendence.
SOSEO is not just an album; it is a refuge—a queer sanctuary where softness is strength and truth is found in the spaces between words and notes. Joyce Olong’s work here challenges the listener to embrace vulnerability and to see queerness not as an otherness but as a profound, beautiful way of being.
This album lingers, offering a gentle escape into a world where authenticity reigns, and in doing so, it becomes a vital companion for anyone seeking refuge, honesty, and a celebration of queer life.
Ratings: 8.0/10
