Blackheart (album)

Blackheart
Studio album by Dawn Richard
Released January 15, 2015 (2015-01-15)
Genre Electronica, alternative R&B, dance-pop, experimental pop
Length 63:42
Label Our Dawn
Producer Noisecastle III & Swagg R'celious
Dawn Richard chronology
Goldenheart
(2013)		 Blackheart
(2015)		 REDEMPTION
(2016)
Singles from Blackheart
  1. "Blow"
    Released: October 26, 2014
  2. "Tide (The Paradox Effect)"
    Released: January 15, 2015
  3. "Choices"
    Released: February 1, 2015
  4. "Projection"
    Released: March 16, 2015
  5. "Calypso"
    Released: April 29, 2015
  6. "Titans X James Dean"
    Released: May 27, 2015
  7. "Billie Jean"
    Released: October 5, 2015

Blackheart is the third studio album by American singer Dawn Richard, which was released on January 15, 2015, by Our Dawn Entertainment. The album was originally scheduled for an October 2013 release,[1] but pushed back in favor for the production of the third Danity Kane album DK3.[2] None of the previously released singles "Judith", "Meteors", "Levitate" and "Valkyrie" can be found on the final track-listing.

Background

"'Goldenheart' put you on a battlefield in medieval times. 'Blackheart' will put you in a place where you're stuck in a rainforest by yourself, and you realize that you have all this armor, but you have this blood on you as well.

“
”

— Dawn Richard, Billboard[2]

The release of the album was initially announced in May 2011 via Rap-Up magazine as part of an upcoming trilogy of albums.[3] By July 2013, after the self-funded January released Goldenheart had sold a total of 9,000 copies domestically, Richard found herself at a lack of sufficient funds to stem the production of her next album, leading to her starting a campaign via Kickstarter, in which she asked her fans to donate a total of 25,000 dollars. With 133 backers lending 2,854 dollars, Richard was not able to reach her goal however, and the campaign turned out unsuccessful.[4] At that time the album was intended to be released by October 7, 2013 and to include 11 or 12 songs.[4] The logos and art work were to be chosen interactively by her fans, like the choice of the second single between two songs "Judith" and "Valkyrie".[5] The latter was later remixed with fellow American singer JoJo.[6]

By early September 2013, the album was eventually postponed due to Richard, Aubrey O'Day, Aundrea Fimbres and Shannon Bex deciding to reunite as Danity Kane.[7][8] In an interview with Billboard magazine on March 13, 2014, when asked about the status of Blackheart, Richard explained that it was still in production, and served as the second installment of three albums to be ended with Redemptionheart. She elaborated on how it continues the story of the first part of the trilogy, while it will exist with a slightly dissimilar atmosphere, saying: "Goldenheart put you on a battlefield in medieval times. Blackheart will put you in a place where you're stuck in a rainforest by yourself, and you realize that you have all this armor, but you have this blood on you as well." Next to the digitally released singles "Valkyrie", "Levitate", "Judith" and "Meteors", a song called "Tide", described as ""Judith"'s step-sister" was not added to the regular tracklist of the album.[8] The latter song however can be found as a bonus track on the Vinyl edition of the album. Richard explained in an interview with Billboard published in October that her grandmother passing away, and her father being diagnosed with cancer inspired her to prove that she had a story to tell as well as wanting to make the people she lost proud.[7]

Promotion

On the release day of Blackheart Richard visited the New York City Apple Store to tape an episode of their "Meet The Musician" podcasts.[9] Also the very first interview of her addressing the Danity Kane break-up was released via Rap-Up on the release day. Next to that Richard released a music video to the Vinyl edition bonus track "Tide".[10] Other promotional stops during the release week included the Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club,[11] as well as the radio show Sway in the Morning.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork Media8.0/10[13]
FACT Magazine[14]
PressPlayOK3/5[15]
Allmusic [16]
Tiny Mix Tapes4/5[17]
Now4/5[18]
Spin8/10[19]

Blackheart received widespread acclaim from critics, who noted the darker subject material compared to previous work. In reference to the album, Spin magazine described Dawn Richard as a "prefab non-headliner gone rogue as a weirdo genius."[20] Pitchfork magazine lauded the album for its personal content and vision[21] and furthermore described the project as "heaving, apocalyptic dance-pop, somewhere between Björk and Brandy".[22] FACT magazine welcomed the change in direction of this album with respect to Richard's other work, Armor On and Goldenheart. The non-traditional pop aspects of the album such as the electronic and synth production, and verse structure were also welcomed.[23]

British newspaper The Guardian described Richard's as 'too good to ignore' in their review of Blackheart stating 'The most ambitious and revelatory album of the year might be the lowest-profile, despite (or perhaps because of) its creator's mainstream connections. Dawn Richard's Blackheart is a wild ride through the kind of constantly shapeshifting electronics that make everyone else's so-called "innovation" sound timid – and the emotional peaks and troughs give a sense of purpose to her experimentation. It starts with a piercing a cappella cry – "I thought I lost it all" – and its twists and turns thereafter take in Greek mythology and feminist retellings of the Billie Jean groupie archetype, as Richard tells a tale of failure, loss and ultimate triumph. Co-produced by Richard and the relative unknown Noisecastle III, Blackheart sounds like little else. There are brief reminders of Björk's Medúlla in the amphibious vocal layering of Titans, Moby's Go in the frantic rhythms of Calypso or Aaliyah's What If in Adderall/Sold's lurch into rock, but they are only the barest hints.'

[24]

Accolades

Publication Accolade Year Rank
FACT Magazine The 50 Best Albums of 2015 2015
Spin The 25 Best Albums of 2015 (Dan Weiss List) 2015
Rolling Stone 20 Best R&B Albums of 2015 2015
Tiny Mix Tapes The 50 Best Albums of 2015 2015
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2015 2015
Los Angeles Times 2015's Must-Hear Albums 2015

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Noir (Intro)"   1:23
2. "Calypso"   4:25
3. "Blow"   4:29
4. "Billie Jean"   4:37
5. "Adderall / Sold (Outerlude)"   7:28
6. "Swim Free"   3:59
7. "Titans (Interlude)"   2:06
8. "Warriors"   5:40
9. "Projection"   5:59
10. "Castles"   4:42
11. "Phoenix" (featuring Aundrea Fimbres) 4:04
12. "Choices (Interlude)"   2:58
13. "The Deep"   5:07
14. "Blackheart (Outro)"   4:30
15. "Tide" (Vinyl edition bonus track [31]) 4:30

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Dance/Electronic Albums[32] 2
US Top Heatseekers Albums[33] 2
US Top Independent Albums[34] 1

Release history

Region Date Label Format
Worldwide[35] January 15, 2015 Our Dawn Entertainment Digital download

References

  1. ↑ http://www.rap-up.com/2013/06/17/dawn-richard-readies-blackheart-for-october/
  2. 1 2 http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5937282/dawn-richard-doesnt-mind-being-rbs-coolest-outcast
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_OicgJeHrY
  4. 1 2 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1802273713/the-blackheart-experience
  5. ↑ http://www.rap-up.com/2013/08/19/new-music-dawn-richard-judith-valkyrie/
  6. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/dawn_richard/valkyrie-art-of-war-remix-feat
  7. 1 2 http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6296970/dawn-richard-blackheart-album-release-danity-kane
  8. 1 2 http://dopeavenue.com/exclusive-dawn-richard-talks-blackheart-album-danity-kane-reunion/
  9. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/DawnRichard/photos/a.215782261876338.48021.211758625612035/692304857557407/?type=1&theater
  10. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-watch-dawn-richard-tide-the-paradox-effect--20150115-story.html
  11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJFdy70M0X4
  12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1YU_crm7nI
  13. ↑ "Pitchfork Media review".
  14. ↑ "FACT Magazine review".
  15. ↑ "PressPlayOK review".
  16. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/blackheart-mw0002814541/credits
  17. ↑ "Tiny Mix Tapes review".
  18. ↑ "Now review".
  19. ↑ "Spin review".
  20. ↑ http://www.spin.com/2015/03/overlooked-albums-report-dan-deacon-dawn-richard-title-fight/
  21. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20104-blackheart/
  22. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9678-overlooked-records-2015/
  23. ↑ http://www.factmag.com/2015/01/19/dawn-richard-blackheart/
  24. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/feb/13/dawn-richard-too-good-to-ignore/
  25. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2015". FACT Magazine. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  26. ↑ "The 25 Best Albums of 2015". Spin. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  27. ↑ "20 Best R&B Albums of 2015". Rolling Stone. December 16, 2015. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  28. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2015". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  29. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2015". Pitchfork. December 16, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  30. ↑ "2015's Must-Hear Albums". Los Angeles Times. December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  31. ↑
  32. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-electronic-albums/2015-01-31
  33. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/300534/dawn-richard/chart?f=324
  34. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums
  35. ↑ . Amazon.com : Dawn Richard: MP3 Downloads http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OD4UDXI/ref=sr_1_1_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B00OD4ZO0K&qid=1413728422&sr=1-1%3C/a%3E : Dawn Richard: MP3 Downloads Check |url= value (help). Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

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