Frequency/Only One by MARLEE XX: Review

by Damien Reid November 24, 2022

November 24, 2022

Frequency/Only One by MARLEE XX: Review

MARLEE XX is a one-woman army with a unique, genre-fluid musical style in her arsenal. She brings a Bronx style all the way from Washington, DC, and is a multi-hyphenate artist with incredible skills. With the releases of “Frequency” and “Only One,” she has created a double entendre.

She kicks things off with a promising single that turns up the heat just as Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” did. The song “Frequency” has a dark, aggressive, and somber beat, while the words are upbeat and elevate the vibration of the listener. MARLEE raises the stakes, challenges, and then drops it with an unexpected blow like you wouldn’t realize it’s the end of the track. Following the signal of that, we have “Only One”. This nearly reggae-inspired infusion bounces along a narrow line between urban and progressive pop music, characterized by a juicy bass, delicate synthesizers, and the realization of the longing for only one genuine love. This song seeps in unexpectedly to welcome listeners with a different vibration and energy.

MARLEE XX is like a candy treat wrapped up in the shiniest paper. She can sing, create songs, produce them, and even light it up with her DJ-ing tricks. By releasing these songs together, she destroys the standard pop formula and reimagines the role of women in the music industry.