So, there I am... on Spotify, the highly addictive service I pay for every month without even thinking- listening to artist normally on my playlist. Tora, Gus Dapperton, Joji, a hodgepodge, potpourri of genre non-conforming tunes. There's a perfect playlist of these wonderful misfits (ironically called the one thing I'm allergic to), "Pollen." Whenever I want new artists to listen to who's sounds are undefined, "Pollen" is where I go. I don't know who made this playlist but God bless em. I've found many new artists on there, including the one I'm going to talk about right now.

The first song I heard from this new artist had a dope retro-beat, catchy chorus, and a voice that is, to me, unique to the black girl music scene. It was distinctive; not Beyonce, Rihanna, SZA or Kehlani. It was….who was she?? I had to dig deeper. After listening to the track called "Giovanni" about 100 or so times, I fell into the charms of the unique styling of Jamila Woods, who wasn't as new to the scene as I thought. Her debut album came out almost two years ago with a second album dropping on May 10th.

The first real deep connection I had with her music was a song on her first album titled "HEAVN." The track named "Holy" was a religious experience indeed.

I normally don't pick up on lyrics right away, I'm more of a sucker for a beat. But this song, this hymn, was lyrically so beautiful I couldn't not listen to it. Here is a song about a woman finding the greatest love of all: self-love. She doesn't need anyone to complete her; YOU KNOW she's confident, finding and becoming secure in herself before she worries about anyone else.

"I'm not lonely, I'm alone."

I didn't know how badly I needed those words until I heard them resonate in my soul. I went through my first really personal experience with my struggles of mental health this past year and it was hell sometimes. However, as I look compare myself from then to now, I'm more in touch with my emotions and what I want out of life.

I have ways to go, but songs like this one always remind me of the goal of self-love and acceptance. That it's okay to take time for myself. To celebrate me. And I need to do that before I even think about anyone else.

It wasn't this song that made me appreciate Woods probably faster than any other artist in recent times... her whole album is full of meaningful lyrical masterpieces. "VRY BLCK" featuring another under-appreciated black female artist Noname, is a celebration of blackness, despite institutional barriers, black people are unapologetically black and proud. "Black girl soldier," is also a strong anthem of empowerment and within its lyrics are salutes to unsung black women who have helped the movement throughout history. Not just Rosa Parks, for the record.

"We get loud about it, oh wow we're the bitches?"

Lyrics like this, so raw so true so powerful. Jamila Woods is a refreshing young voice who sings beautifully about the things that we know but don't want to talk about it. She does it in a way that is catchy enough to bump in the car, yet meaningful enough to write an essay about or put in a thesis about blackness in America. Not to mention, a lot of her tracks reveal universal emotions. You don't have to be black to listen to "Lonely" or "HEAVN." they talk about themes we all share and face.

And if I couldn't love her enough, she hits me with an incredible, soulful, ethereal cover of one of my favorite songs of all time: "Stellar" by Incubus. Now, you have to realize how big this was for me to listen to. When the first lines hit my ears, I felt the same emotions I felt when I heard the song for the first time while studying for my first AP final exam. Not only was it a beautiful cover, but a black woman did an Incubus cover. For years, I struggled with the existential crisis I faced with the music I listened to vs the music that people black like me listened to. I was called the "whitest black person" for it. To hear another beautiful, dark-skinned black woman referencing a hard rock band from the early 2000s. It was validating.

And so, I write this love letter, for the world to listen, revel in and appreciate the genius of Jamila Woods. After rewatching the Netflix romantic-comedy "Nappily Ever After" I realized that her reprise of "Holy" was the ending song of the film, a very fitting one indeed. On my journey of self-love and discovery, "Holy" will forever be one of the anthems that will keep me going. Because of Woods, I have a feeling that "Goodness and mercy will follow me." And I hope it follows not only black girls, but women of color everywhere who need that reassurance as well.