Drawing us in with a cerebral siren sound and rhythmic drums, Cheri Lyn opens Selfmade Woman with assertive prose as she sings, “You know I’m right when I’m wrong, ring the alarm, ‘cos I’m coming strong eh, let me introduce myself…”
The opus expands with horns and a funk-rock adjacency as Cheri Lyn shares choral vocals and an empowering message in line with the title of the track. The intention feels poignant and important and we appreciate the star’s vocal delivery, charisma and authenticity. She reminds us of early Pink, Meghan Trainor, and Paloma Faith – that said there is no doubt that Cheri Lyn is creating a sonic universe of her own.
The middle eight is genius, with telephone vocals, expanding into an anthemic final reprise. We could imagine the song locking in a multitude of sync deals, perhaps a TV show like All’s Fair, or a movie like Joy, Erin Brockovich, Hidden Figures, or the Netflix mini-series Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker.
It feels inspiring to experience the track. We are grateful that Cheri Lyn is sharing her voice in such a conscious and intentional way. It feels much needed. She describes the track as “an empowering pop-soul anthem about refusing to fit into standardized female roles and fully owning true feminine potential”- and this absolutely comes through.
Cheri Lyn is a powerhouse singer-songwriter whose journey took her from leaving everything behind in 2016 to recording her first EP at the legendary Metropolis Studios in London. Quickly becoming a fixture in the UK blues and rock scene, she has performed internationally, shared the stage with Ed Sheeran, and appeared on the international rock compilation Circle of Friends alongside icons like Doro Pesch. Her debut album Saviours reached the Top 20 of the IBBA Charts in the UK and earned Best Rock Album from the German Pop/Rock Association.
She is a storyteller and a rebel with purpose, and her lyrics champion female empowerment as exemplified by Selfmade Woman, as well as equality, social awareness and the courage to own your path.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Selfmade Woman to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Cheri Lyn, including Everyone Loves a Secret, and Compromise.