First coined by Spotify, Bedroom Pop is a pretty new music genre. Bedroom Pop does not have one united sound, but its vibe is personal, mellow and quintessentially honest. Its artists usually create their music at home, in denial of the mainstream industry. Sven Gamsky, otherwise known as Still Woozy, is frequently placed at the forefront of the movement.

In light of this, Still Woozy’s new album, If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is is a collection of sweet songs, verging ever so slightly on corny, with lyrics that, without fail, create immense intimacy as well as imagery. Free from the mould of the industry, Sven is able to create a heartfelt, idiosyncratic first album which shamelessly reflects his hopeless romantic self.

‘Rocky’

The ability of ‘Rocky’ to make you feel just as much collected as you are excited, is a bow to Sven’s mastering of emotions. The song is a great beat to walk to. Weird but considered, it is a classic Still Woozy concoction of software production and traditional instrumentation that, I would argue, leaves the listener feeling awake and inspired. Lyrically, it is neither Sven’s best nor worst. Conveying the desire to remain in a dream state where he enjoys an easier love life, Sven uses the repetition of ‘dream’ and other assonance, especially in the chorus, in order to convey a sleepy mood juxtaposed by the song’s energetic rhythm. This kind of playfulness between his accurately-named, woozy psyche and his funky electro-beats are something we experience in nearly every song.

‘Window’

Sven’s most popular song of the album, ‘Window’ was written last year during the pandemic. Simple but effective lyricism communicates the relatable sensation of missing your partner during lockdown – a universal feeling in these times which aids its popularity. The beat is also undeniably infectious with the added quirky sample of a squeaky chair, giving a contrastingly light-hearted and silly tone to Sven’s desperation to be reunited with his girlfriend. This song is a mood-boosting boogie.

‘Kenny’

A new venture for Sven, this album explores some themes that seem to move away from his romanticism. Songs such as ‘Woof,’ ‘These Days’ and ‘Kenny’ insinuate a struggle with mental health, money and lacking purpose. I find ‘Kenny’ in particular touching – it is a melancholic song about people in Montana who have not grown up with a silver spoon in their mouths. Sven himself said on Genius that, ‘the space and pace of the song reflects the vastness and loneliness of the area.’ And it is certainly refreshing to hear different emotions from Still Woozy, especially as he has a talent for breeding a listener’s connection to each and every song on a human level.

Overall, the album is not without faults. After all, it is Sven’s first album. Fans are used to single releases every few months, and he is infamous for creating a song in one day and publishing by evening. Maybe an album simply does not suit Sven’s usual spontaneity. Similarly, nearly a whole album’s worth of proclamations of love does get tedious which creates danger of the album blending into one. This shows a level of immaturity still and perhaps a falling prey to creating songs for the sake of filling an album (which many artists do). Nonetheless, even if the album does morph into one song for you, the warm instrumentals would comfort you for hours. It proves a great first attempt with some delves away from his usual style, suggesting we should expect great things to come. I will not endorse listening to this album solidly, but do mix this album into your pre-made indie playlist.

Rating: 6/10

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