After captivating audiences with her powerhouse performance as Elphaba in the first installment of “Wicked,” Cynthia Erivo returns — not with spectacle, but with soul.
Her new album, “I Forgive You,” is a 20-track triumph of vulnerability, vocal mastery and lyrical brilliance. Released June 6, the project marks a significant artistic chapter for Erivo, one that feels less like a follow-up and more like a declaration of identity.
“This album felt like my first,” Erivo told the Associated Press, referencing the level of creative control she held. And it shows. From production choices to lyrical content, the album is deeply intentional. Each track is built around her voice — not just as a vehicle for melody, but as the structural core.
“The meat of each of the pieces that you listen to is the voice,” she said. The instrumentation is all live, but it’s Erivo’s vocal layering, belting and whispering that give the songs their shape and soul.
The album’s centerpiece, the title track “I Forgive You,” is a quiet thunderclap — elegant, restrained and devastating. What’s most striking is how “I Forgive You” balances quiet introspection with bold emotional peaks.
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Erivo moves between delicate, almost trembling passages and soaring belts with such fluidity that the emotional weight of each lyric is magnified.
Her ability to shift from whisper to wall-shaking power feels less like technique and more like storytelling — each vocal decision revealing a new facet of the song’s emotional core.
The lyricism is equally breathtaking, blending poetic turns of phrase with plainspoken truths in writing that’s rich with detail and imagery. Whether she’s singing about personal loss, fear or acceptance, Erivo paints every line with intention.
The imagery in each track is stunning — songs unfold like short films, with clear emotional landscapes and narrative depth.
The song “Be Okay” offers reassurance wrapped in honesty, while “Grace,” a tribute to a young girl, pulses with tenderness and reverence.
Each of these songs serves as an emotional anchor, inviting listeners not only to hear Erivo’s journey, but to reflect on their own.
“Replay,” the album’s lead single, is a masterclass in contrast; a bright, rhythmic beat hides confessions of insecurity and self-doubt. “There’s a person in that song who’s fragile,” Erivo explained.
“Someone who wants to help everyone but gets it wrong.” It’s that kind of duality — hope wrapped in hurt — that makes the album resonate long after the final note.
While “Wicked” has ushered Erivo into a new era of fame, she remains grounded in purpose. “I had a sort of level of anonymity that I got used to,” she said. “That isn’t necessarily there anymore.” Yet instead of retreating, she’s using her platform to offer something real. Something lasting.
“I Forgive You” is not just an album — it’s a conversation about forgiveness, grief, identity and growth. With its soaring vocals, arresting imagery and lyrical richness, it reminds us why Erivo has become one of the most compelling artists of her generation.
And in a world full of noise, her message is clear, quiet and brave; “I Forgive You.”
kgrau2@dailyillini.com