For Ghanaian singer, Wendy Shay, taking ownership of her narrative through music, be it messy or refined, is something she’s done since her debut with the 2018 single “Uber Driver”. Faced with the ebbs and flows of life as a multi-award-winning voice in the Ghanaian music scene, her resolve remains steadfast with criticism and controversy providing fuel for some of her best tracks. Ready, her third studio album, finds the artist in her usual place of fearlessness spurred on by self-acceptance. On the opener, “Street Girl (Soul Survivor)”, she recounts the sacrifices and “many bad things” that have led her to this point. But as the guitar harmonies underscore her raw emotions, Shay doesn’t reflect from a place of regret but from one of silent pride in her ability to overcome. She appears supercharged and primed to take on whatever life throws at her next. As the album progresses, she takes a sharp turn inwards, seeking love and affection on “Black Coffee” and “Crazy Love”, featuring Olivetheboy. However, she remains on guard and self-adulation is still the name of the game. “If you leave me at 6 o’clock/Another man by 6:30/ Fuck love/Love sucks,” she croons on “Don’t Be Silly”, which taps into a similar energy to the 2022 single, “Survivor”. On “Apology”, Shay is joined by Jamaican singer, Mavado as they share perspectives on a wounded relationship. By the end, she attempts to leave the pain from these experiences behind with an anthem for letting go starring Phina, Guchi and Bedjine.