Remi Wolf returns with another iteration of genre-defying pop on Big Ideas

Much like her bizarre origin story (which includes a childhood appearance on American Idol and a stint in competitive skiing), she’s grown tired of tradition and is always drawn to the next best thing, resulting in her most ambitious project yet.

Though Big Ideas retains some of the synth-heavy bedroom pop of Wolf’s earliest efforts, it’s also desperate to underscore outspoken songwriting with equally raucous production, fit with all the bells and whistles one could ever need. Such embellishments can walk a fine line between innovation and overkill, but here Wolf seems to get the balance just right by using larger ensembles to elevate her message, rather than bury it. From the rowdy horn sections on "Kangaroo" to the foray into pop-punk on album-highlight "Wave," Big Ideas comes kitted out with the full works, no expense spared.

This sonic development is perhaps indicative of Wolf’s own growth as an artist in recent years, earning her the opening spot on tour with the likes of Paramore and Olivia Rodrigo. Sharing the stage with some of music’s biggest names is just one of the many luxuries such a life can bring, or so it seems. On the surface, Wolf’s traded in the juvenile delinquency explored on previous records in favour of playboy-sponsored parties, crypto bros, and popstars infiltrating her DMs. But a closer glimpse at these extravagant scenes exposes her dissociation from this lifestyle, leaving her craving a simple intimacy on "Alone in Miami" and idyllic domesticity on "Motorcycle." “I can’t handle the thought of people using me or wanting something from me,” she explains to Rolling Stone, “I hate the idea of hidden intentions, and it’s kind of always happening.”

Though her circumstances may have changed, Wolf remains unwavering against industry expectations. Consequently, the record feels strongest at its scrappiest; when it harks back to the charm of her humble beginnings full of compressed vocals and effortless funk. Moreover, its most authentic moment arrives in its final moments on "Just the Start." Pairing a stumbling vocal take with a single acoustic guitar line, Wolf pokes fun at her own performativity in a mock singsong style; “I wonder if they’ve ever seen me / maybe if they know who I are.” Though fame can be fickle and she’s grown weary of the chase, Wolf measures her own success by the strength of her own convictions, declaring at the end of every verse; “it won’t catch me.” It’s clear she’s not relinquishing control anytime soon – in fact, this is only the beginning.