SZA’s new album ‘SOS’ features a standout song with Phoebe Bridgers. The meaning behind «Ghost in the Machine» is raw and melancholy.
“I need humanity / You’re like humanity, drowning in vanity / Craving humanity.”
Move aside, CTRL. There’s a new SZA project dominating the airwaves. On Dec. 9, the R&B singer dropped her highly anticipated album, SOS. The record is an impressive release and sees SZA embracing those nostalgic, lo-fi synths that put her on the map in 2014. SOS brims with bops; however, it’s her track, “Ghost In The Machine,” featuring Phoebe Bridgers that truly stands out. It’s always the unexpected collaborations that hit the mark. Or, as SZA would say, hit different.
SZA and Bridgers sing about craving human connection. The subtly of their references allude to possible commentary on the music industry. In a November cover story for Billboard, SZA lamented how draining it is to be a high-performing musician. “I could literally burst into tears and run through this wall at any moment. I am effectively falling apart,” she said. “Life is f*cking hard. To be expected to do anything at a high level while life is life-ing is f*cking crazy. This isn’t meant for a person; it’s meant for a machine.”
It seems she’s elaborating on these emotions in “Ghost in the Machine,” reminding herself that she’s not a machine but a person. However, it’s the constant expectation to churn out content that can often make her feel more hollow than rooted in her body.
Over synthetic harps, SZA seeks stimulating connection and something more authentic. “Everything disgusting, conversation is so boring / Heard about what? / «I hate her,» «I don’t agree,» «I did it first»/ I give a f* ck / I just wanna f*ck, eat, sleep, love happy,” she sings. SZA is looking for her version of Eat Pray Love but struggling to find it.
