Folk/Review Chellcy Reitsma - Carpe Diem
Chellcy Reitsma is a Dutch-American award-winning, genre-bending singer-songwriter, visual artist, and poet based in Malta, EU, full-time and in Nashville, TN, part-time, known for her clever and poetic lyrics that inspire. Her alternative music is a fusion that blends and blurs the lines between blues, a myriad of rock genres, and Americana into a unique retro style with a film noir edge.
With “Carpe Diem,” Chellcy Reitsma presents her most expansive and emotionally resonant work to date — an album that feels both intimate and cinematic, grounded yet free-spirited. Reitsma’s signature blend of blues, folk, and electronic textures forms the backbone of this collection, but what truly elevates the record is her ability to fuse these influences into something unmistakably her own. Each track feels like a different facet of the same inner journey, weaving poetry and sound into a sweeping meditation on resilience, presence, and the urgency of living fully.
The album’s blues-driven moments stomp forward with grit and confidence, propelled by raw vocals and earthy rhythms that recall the cathartic power of classic Americana. These tracks sit beautifully beside the more delicate, folky lullabies — tender pieces that glow with introspection and vulnerability. Reitsma’s voice in these quieter moments is luminous, carrying a softness that lingers long after the final note.
Layered alongside these organic sounds are the subtle electronic elements that pulse beneath the surface, adding modern tension, atmosphere, and emotional depth. Rather than dominating, the digital flourishes enrich the record’s sonic palette, giving “Carpe Diem” a contemporary heartbeat that keeps the album fresh and unpredictable.
What binds the project together is Reitsma’s poetic storytelling. Her lyrics read like affirmations, confessions, and journal entries, urging listeners to seize life, accept its contradictions, and find beauty in the in-between.
“Carpe Diem” is a stirring, life-affirming body of work — a cascade of sound and soul that continues to echo long after the album ends.