Split between two sides, Korean-American singer-songwriter Audrey Nuna’s second album, Trench, out via Arista, is showing a wide spectrum of hip-hop. Given the high that a liquid breakfast and its deluxe version was for Nuna‘s career, which already garnered a wide audience with her Jack Harlow collaboration “Comic Sans,” the follow-up had high expectations from the get-go. Fortunately, in Nuna’s case, going above and beyond what a rapper or artist could accomplish through hip-hop and R&B is something of an aptitude for her instead of a will-she-won’t she situation. And despite the title, Trench beats the sophomore slump by riding off high-energy raps in the first half and groundbreaking self-discoveries in the second.

Leading up to the album, Nuna had more than a handful of stops on her schedule, ranging from a sold-out NYC show at The Sultan Room to her very own NPR Tiny Desk Concert. For the first show she has after the release of Trench, she will be playing in LA at The Echo on Oct. 28.

Not abiding by conformities

Even though she frequently raps on her songs, calling Nuna a rapper feels limiting when she actively challenges what you might expect out of hip-hop and trap, in particular. “Doggie Pound” takes some notes from breakbeat music and uses that influence as a substitute for the familiar hi-hats that make trap distinct. While primarily serving as a braggadocious song for Nuna, the electronic twist makes “Doggie Pound” double as a dance track that stands out from the rest of the tracklist. It’s also very fitting that the chorus is Nuna repeating, “Nobody do it like me.”

Speaking of dance music, the aptly titled “Dance Dance Dance” relies heavily on a bass trying to burst out of its bubble as the intensity rises. Nuna, whose own voice literally gets higher as the runtime progresses, dictates where the production goes rather than the other way around. Although there’s a possibility that the beat was built around her voice, it’s just as likely that she simply possesses a level of control over what happens next and has inspired trust in her artistic capabilities.

Brutally honest songwriting

Through the abrasive production and hard-hitting vocals that have defined Nuna for much of her catalog, a striking aspect of her music this time around is how much she’s revealing in the lyrics. “What About Me?” finds Nuna bluntly talking about her selfishness, with the song’s title being an ironic statement that shows a level of self-awareness not many artists, let alone rappers, exhibit. In a more direct confrontation with oneself, “2high” is Nuna at her most self-destructive, repeating “I’m dyin’ to feel something good” as if it’s the only phrase she could get out.

While a majority of her more vulnerable moments happen in the second side, Hard Feelings, side A has its moments when Nuna slips out things about herself amid trap-inflicted beats. “Mine,” a track equal parts cutesy and bouncy the way it spins Jersey club, digs into her possessiveness over a boy whose commitment is lackluster at best. The reality of the situation seems to catch up to Nuna, represented in the sudden strings that come into play and transform the song from one limited to hip-hop to one where multiple interpretations could form.

Balance between two sides

The first eight tracks of Trench versus the second half of the album create a throughline between Nuna holding back her emotions and finally letting them take over, subtly revealing a theme or deeper meaning that coincides with the shift in sound. When placed next to each other, “Me & My Baby” — a short but catchy trap song — and “Starving” seem to come from two different places, making for what could be too much of a whiplash when changing the tracklist. However, the album’s sequence makes the transition as smooth as possible, exemplifying the carefulness that went into its creation.

The latter track, which happens to have the sole feature in the form of Teezo Touchdown, brings out the alt-rock tendencies in the two. Compared to Teezo’s many other collaborations on his or others’ songs, Nuna is one of the few whose style intersects with his in a way that compliments the both of them. However, the fact that Teezo takes on rapping duty and Nuna is primarily singing shows her dedication to the album’s second half, which is a much different, if still show-stopping, showcase for her talents.

For the six years Nuna has been dropping music, there’s never a shortage of how many sides she can reveal with each passing release. Although change has become something to be expected coming from the MC, particularly in the context of hip-hop and what the genre can achieve, there’s still a persistent sense that we haven’t seen all she has to offer. With Trench, that sentiment is not only reaffirmed but further proven by an ability to show Nuna’s many strengths at a balance rather than clashing with one another. “I don’t want to follow a certain trajectory,” Nuna said. “I’m just trying to follow my curiosity.”

Words: David Sosa

Visit Audrey Nuna on her Instagram and website to stay updated on new releases and tickets to potential shows, including an LA show at The Echo on Oct. 28.