Susan Style takes us through her life on debut, "Only a Broken Heart Can Hold the World"
There’s a gravity pulling everything together on Only a Broken Heart Can Hold the World, the debut album from Susan Style. Inspired by a prayer often attributed to Mother Teresa, the record leans into the idea that true openness comes through breaking, and then dares to build something radiant from those pieces. Across seven tracks and a concise 24 minute runtime, Susan crafts an album that feels less like a collection of songs and more like a snapshot of everything she’s been through.
From the get go on “The Hope from the Dream”, the production is polished, immersive, and deeply intentional. Working alongside Max Heyes, known for collaborations with Massive Attack and Primal Scream, she elevates her palette into something downright cinematic and enveloping. The synthesizers are the beating heart of the album, shimmering, pulsing, and occasionally overwhelming in the best possible way.
However, this isn’t just a showcase for pristine electronic production. Susan’s voice anchors the record with a sense of intimacy that cuts through the digital sheen. Her vocals carry a duality that mirrors the album’s themes, at once delicate and resolute, drifting through the arrangements while still commanding their center. At times, this record even dives into the realm of dream pop which was absolutely lush. On the lyrical end, there’s storytelling at play here that feels deeply personal, tracing her 9,000-mile journey from Taipei to London.
One track blends Mandarin lyricism with the glossy textures of 80’s-esque synth pop and “A Fling” closes the record with a much needed surge of energy, almost like a celebratory release that captures the strange joy of rediscovering oneself. We love this record for all the different styles and tones it holds, but it definitely shows off that Susan isn’t just aiming for something completely specific. The love and passion is in the blueprints of these songs!
Every sound, every lyrical turn, every swell of synth feels connected to a central idea, giving the album a hypnotic feel. It invites you to sit with it, to move through its phases rather than skipping ahead.
For a debut, it’s absolutely remarkable! Susan Style doesn’t just introduce herself, she establishes a fully formed artistic identity, one that bridges Eastern emotional nuance with Western electronic ambition. The result is an album that feels both deeply introspective and sonically expansive. She’s crushed it on all fronts of this record and we urge everyone to give it a listen, preferably from start to finish uninterrupted.
Go ahead and click those links below to listen in, to follow along, and of course to stay tuned for everything else in the works.
Listen to “Only a broken heart can hold the world”
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