5 out of 5 stars  

Gigi Perez’s unfiltered lyrics and her signature folky style on her latest album, “At The Beach, In Every Life,” create a powerful listening experience, making it easily one of my favorite releases of 2025 so far. The album feels like we are getting a direct read from Perez’s personal diary. Its lyrics are raw, intimate and relatable. 

“At The Beach, In Every Life” explores Perez’s grief over losing her sister, sexuality, nostalgia and guilt. Through beautifully poetic lyrics, her alto vocals and an acoustic guitar, Perez captures her own struggles and illustrates them in a way that deeply resonates with listeners, regardless of their background. Her hard-hitting and tear-jerking lyrics serve as a reminder that no one is truly alone. 

Perez took the internet by storm when her acoustic song “Sometimes (Backwood)” went viral on TikTok and amassed millions of views. “Sailor Song” is the first track on the album, which helped guide her into mainstream media as an independent artist. The song earned Perez her first Billboard Top 100 charting.  

I couldn’t get enough of Perez’s previous EP, “How To Catch A Falling Knife,” and I certainly can’t get enough of this one. I firmly believe that Perez is one of the greatest songwriters of my generation.  

“Sailor Song” is a classic that encapsulates intense devotion to one’s partner with a catchy melody through vivid imagery of a siren luring in a sailor. This is the song that put Perez on my radar in 2024, and I’ve been obsessed since I first heard it.  

“Sugar Water” recalls Perez’s childhood, particularly growing up with her now-deceased sister. With backing vocals repeating, “I want it bad, I want it back,” this song perfectly captures the feelings of yearning for something you have lost.  

With a melancholy beginning that swells into an intense bridge, “Normalcy” discusses addiction to a partner, feeling like you just can’t escape each other. As a big fan of albums connected by a greater theme or message, I loved this song’s callback to “Sailor Song,” in its line, “Why am I such a siren to you?”

“Nothing, Absolutely” is a song about missing an ambiguous character. In this case, it’s likely Perez’s sister, although it could also be about a former lover. Either way, this song explores more of Perez’s impressive vocal range with a slightly different sound than other songs on the album.  

“Crown” tackles Perez’s grief combined with her religious trauma in a smooth, gentle ballad. Featuring straightforward lyrics such as, “And it’s only when you’re dead they’ll put a crown on your head,” this song tells the important story of placing priorities in the right place and serves as a callout to people who don’t.  

 
“Fable” is my favorite song on the album. With lyrics like “Love was the law and religion was taught,” and “‘Cause you believe doesn’t mean that it’s there,” this track perfectly captures what it’s like to be surrounded by something you disagree with and being ostracized for it. It represents a deep yearning for wanting to fit into religion in hopes that she can see her sister again one day. The song concludes with a heartbreaking voicemail left by her sister while Perez envisions her in the stars overhead.  

“At The Beach, In Every Life” is the perfect conclusion to the album. Featuring lyrics such as, “And how could you be no one, when you’re everything to me?” and, “If my dreams come up empty, and I wash up on the shore, you would find me at the beach in every life, through every door,” Perez sings about unconditional love that can be interpreted as a sibling, friend, lover or parent.  

No matter the religious affiliation, family situation or sexuality, I am certain there is something in “At The Beach, In Every Life” that can move any listener the way it has moved me. It brought me to tears just writing this review.  

If you were a fan of “Sailor Song” when it went viral, you’ll love this album.  

“At The Beach, In Every Life.” Photo courtesy of Universal Music Online.