Renée Rapp is making a bold statement with her highly anticipated new album, Bite Me, which officially launched today, August 1, through Interscope Records. This album marks a significant evolution in her musical journey, showcasing her growth as an artist.
In Bite Me, the talented alum of Sex Lives of College Girls moves away from the emotional heartbreak ballads found in her previous work, Snow Angel, and embraces a full-throttle approach to pop rebellion. With a total of 12 exhilarating tracks spanning just 33 minutes, Rapp shifts gears from vulnerability to an unapologetic attitude. She dives into themes of sex, fame, and the electrifying party culture, exploring the complex power dynamics intertwined with these experiences.
The album sees Rapp reuniting with Alexander 23, the executive producer of Snow Angel, and features a stellar lineup of collaborators including Omer Fedi, Ryan Tedder, Julian Bunetta, and Carter Lang. Together, they create a captivating sound that intertwines influences from ’90s alt-rock, early 2000s pop-punk, and vibrant synth-pop, all while amplifying Rapp’s raw and unfiltered voice.
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The lead single, “Leave Me Alone,” dropped earlier this May and effectively set the energetic tone for the album, blending punchy guitars with bold lyrical confrontation. The succeeding tracks, “Mad” and “Why Is She Still Here?” heightened the excitement surrounding the release, showcasing Rapp’s ability to balance aggression with playfulness, as she navigates through themes of obsession, resentment, and the intricacies of messy intimacy.
A standout moment in the project features her real-life partner, Towa Bird, on the disco-influenced track “At Least I’m Hot.” In this playful song, the couple flirts over a funky guitar line, highlighting one of the album’s lighter, more humorous moments, which contrasts sharply with some of the more intense themes present throughout the record.
In a recent interview with AP, Rapp expressed her aspirations for the album, stating, “I wanted to love this. I wanted to be able to walk away from this and be so proud of myself and impressed, no matter what anybody else thought.” Her dedication to creating something authentically representative of herself stands out as a key theme throughout the album.
Rapp elaborated further in her conversation with The Associated Press, revealing, “That intention, and also wanting to prove it to myself, was really grueling,” she said. “And also really fun.” This duality of hard work and enjoyment shines through in the music, enhancing its appeal to listeners.
While her previous album Snow Angel explored themes of emotional fallout, Bite Me thrives in the aftermath, embracing a messy, unbothered, and audaciously loud approach. From the fierce opener “I Can’t Have You Around Me” to the poignant closing piano ballad “That’s So Funny,” Rapp makes a powerful statement that she is unapologetically herself, unafraid to push boundaries in her music.
Stream Bite Me below to immerse yourself in Rapp’s vibrant world of music.
