Barbie Almalbis navigates emotional healing in new album ‘Not That Girl’

Barbie Almalbis. Image: Niña Sandejas courtesy of NYOU Consultancy

Singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis allowed listeners to get a glimpse of her journey toward her emotional healing in her fifth album “Not That Girl,” which was written during “one of the most difficult periods” of [her] life.

The album, released on Friday, Jan. 10, came four years after her 2021 long-form record “Scenes from Inside.” It contains nine tracks, namely “Desperate Hours,” “Homeostasis,” “Happy Sad,” “Platonic,” “All U Wanna Do,” “How to Weep,” “Not That Girl,” “Needy” and “Wickederrr Heart.”

While “Not That Girl” stayed faithful to Almalbis’ signature sound, she went on an experimental route as well. She collaborated with music producer Nick Lazaro, who offered a “raw [and] unfiltered” approach matching with the album’s overarching theme.

According to Almalbis, the album is one of her favorites despite being produced during one of the most difficult times of her life. It covers themes closest to her heart such as mental health struggles and finding hope.

“The overarching themes are about holding on to faith through struggles, finding hope through surrender, and celebrating the joy that comes from love and friendship,” she said of the album. “I’ve always written from personal experience — often about heartbreak and unrequited love — but these songs are different, more about personal growth and emotional healing.”

Almalbis, who opted to keep silent about her personal battles, said she turned to writing songs to help deal with her emotions.

“It was my way of processing my thoughts and emotions, of finding a way through my struggles. It helped me focus on the things that brought me hope, and I believe living out these words has played a big part in my own healing,” she said, adding that her friends encouraged her to channel her emotions into writing.

“The songs came so naturally, almost effortlessly. I was reminded of the days when I was a teenager, overwhelmed by emotions, and the only way I could process them was to pour them into my writing. It felt like I was reconnecting with something deep within me,” she continued.

Almalbis started as the lead singer of the bands Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle, before embarking on a solo career in 2005. She is known for her songs “Lilim,” “High” and “Ambon,” to name a few.