Camille Schmidt’s debut album, “Nude #9”, is a confessional journey of self-discovery laid open to the world. This Brooklyn-based artist, who was already making noise with her 2024 EP, “Good Person”, makes a striking debut that weaves together folk, indie rock, synth-pop, and even a touch of punk.

Listen to the album…

“Nude #9” is a series of close portraits in miniature form of love and loss, friendship, and the tormented side of the human condition. Schmidt is an incisive songwriter, her lyrics fraught with unflinching sincerity that’s at once mesmerizing and unnerving. “XOXO”, in particular, pushes her vocals to variable states of distortion and robustness as she wrestles with her demons, inner and past.

The album’s production is similarly great. Working with producer Ben Zaidi and a cast of super-talented musicians, Schmidt really pushes the boundaries of what is sonically possible, experimenting with electronic textures and complicated arrangements. “Cult in Denver” best captures this experimentation, where mesmerizing rhythms allow Schmidt’s vocals to soar from a delicate flutter to a textured low hum.

One of the strongest tracks, “Stanley”, is an absolute whirlwind of raw energy propelled by driving guitars and Schmidt’s wry, stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Alongside the infectious “Fish Pills”, this really shows how Schmidt takes the absurd into the poignant, reflecting her singular perspective and years honing the craft both in comedy and fiction writing.

“Nude #9” is one of those brilliant, courageous, and involving debuts that firmly establish Camille Schmidt’s position among forces to be reckoned with in the indie scene, and with a load of raw talent, astute songwriting, and captivating performance, this record is sure to find a home in every Angel Olsen, Julien Baker, and Sharon Van Etten fan’s collection.