On Friday, November 15, Nessa Barrett unveiled her intimate and dance-worthy sophomore album, AFTERCARE. The 15-track record details the story of a passionate yet fractured affair, featuring previously released singles “DISCO (FT. TOMMY GENESIS)” and “MUSTANG BABY (FT. ARTEMAS).”
Barrett eases into the adrenaline-fueled record with the title track “AFTERCARE.” Listeners are instantly hooked by the jumbled intro, which when played in reverse reveals an intense love affair. “You love the chase, you love to win, Dripped in lace, your favorite sin, Pretty face, naked skin,” Barett sings, only to question in the following line, “But will you stay when it ends?”
Track two picks up speed with the pulsating dance anthem “PORNSTAR.” As the title suggests, the song is a seductive, no-holds-barred declaration of desire: “Flashing red light, Baby, you’re a star, F*ck me all night, Show me who you are.”
The destructive side of this passionate entanglement surfaces in vulnerable tracks like “Russian Roulette,” “Given Enough” and “Edward Scissorhands,” a nod to the iconic 90s Tim Burton film. “Given Enough” exposes the pain that interrupts the passion with lyrics like, “Look who’s coming back to life, just so you can suck me dry,” while “Edward Scissorhands” delves into the impact of unresolved trauma.
Track five, “PASSENGER PRINCESS,” has emerged as the album’s most-streamed song on Spotify, racking up 22 million streams and counting—and for good reason. The track showcases Barrett’s ability to craft a driving beat paired with an earworm chorus.
To celebrate the album’s release, Los Angeles’ Swingers diner has unveiled a limited-time AFTERCARE menu. “…come try the menu at @swingersdiner available nov 16th through december 1st ☆ i heard there’s a surprise in the photo booth too,” Barrett wrote on instagram.
Listen to the record below!
Amelia Cordischi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Juice Box Press, is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in media and communications. Her work has been featured in notable publications, including The Boston Globe. A communications graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Amelia served as manager of Simmons College Radio (“The Shark”), where she also launched and co-hosted her radio show, The Find.
In addition to her editorial work, Amelia is an established freelance photographer, with bylines in Blended Magazine and CelebMix, capturing artists and cultural moments across the music and media landscape. Her career began at WCVB-TV’s Chronicle, the ABC affiliate in Boston, where she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism and storytelling.
When she’s not taking photos from the photo pit, interviewing emerging artists, or crafting the next Juice Box Press feature, Amelia can be found thrifting and exploring the world of sustainable fashion.