Cari Fletcher, known professionally as FLETCHER, has amassed around 6.8 million monthly Spotify listeners. Despite being on the scene since 2016, her breakout moment came in 2019 when her single “Undrunk” garnered a spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, Fletcher has toured with acts like LANY, played festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, and even sold out her own shows.
Despite all of her previous radio success, the long-awaited release of her debut album Girl Of My Dreams is finally here, and it is nothing short of the iconic queer breakup album that we needed.
Photo: Carlos de la Reina
The album begins with classic breakup jams that showcase her incredible vocal range and her ability to create the best bridges to scream at the top of your lungs. “Guess We Lied…” has quickly become a fan favorite with its recycled line “If you’re gonna lie, at least do it in my bed” from the opening track, “If You’re Gonna Lie”, of her 2019 EP you ruined new york city for me.
Woven with her signature power anthems, fearless self-reflection, and some cheeky nods, this album feels like an x-ray into Fletcher’s mind. Due to her honesty in songs like the infamous “Becky’s So Hot”, which blew up on TikTok earlier this year for its blatant name drop, she has earned herself the reputation of giving “queer Taylor Swift energy”. In true Taylor Swift fashion, Fletcher also includes subtle clues for fans to decode in songs like “Birthday Girl”, one of the only ballads on the album.
Her masterful design places the interlude “I Think I’m Growing?” as a segue into the second half of the album which deters from the breakup blues and instead focuses on personal growth.
About the album, Fletcher told Genius, “For my debut album it felt right to do a deeper dive into self-exploration, and all the different facets that make up who I am.”
With a stunning tone and gorgeous ad-libs, Fletcher emphasizes the importance of self-love. My favorite song “Girl Of My Dreams” notes, “I got a new rebound, I’m falling for me now.”
The album closes with an acoustic self-exploration aptly titled “For Cari”. With inspirational lyrics like, “So I’ll say ‘farewell’ to the hard times, and I’ll say ‘fuck you’ to the bad vibes (…) I toast to myself, I’m a bad bitch and nothing can scare me”, the journey ends on a more hopeful note than it began.
Between her catchy rhythms and enchanting command, it is safe to say that she has certified her position as one of the best women in modern pop to be watching.
Girl Of My Dreams is available now via Capitol Records. Listen on Spotify and Apple Music and purchase at Target for two bonus tracks!
Fletcher is currently about to begin the North American Leg of her tour. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.findingfletcher.com
by Jaylen Heady
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