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DOECHII
‘Denial Is A River’
Single Review

(4th January 2025) 

Review by Audrey Songvilay

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Let’s chat.

New year, new resolutions, right? Top of my list: finally go to therapy. Blame Doechii for that.

Or should I thank her?

She just dropped the music video for her track “DENIAL IS A RIVER” and the song’s narration catches us up on her life post Oh the Places You’ll Go (her 2020 EP).

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This song feels like your brutally honest best friend sat you down, poured you a drink, and said, “We need to talk.”

I first stumbled onto Doechii’s work (embarrassingly late) when Rolling Stone named her album Alligator Bites Never Heal as #9 in their top 100 best albums list.

The album cover features Doechii sitting on a chair, holding an alligator.

I thought to myself, who is this person?

I went straight onto Spotify, and randomly picked the track “DENIAL IS A RIVER.” Within 10 seconds, I was hooked. You know those songs you instantly vibe with? This was it. Sharp, funny and brutally self-aware.

Now, about the music video.

It’s aesthetic perfection.

It opens like a 90s sitcom, complete with grainy VHS textures, and a laugh track that feels like it belongs to Fresh Prince. The cinematography is exquisite. Think Wes Anderson vibes but with a distinctly chaotic energy that’s all Doechii. Every shot feels intentional, whether it’s a glamorous close-up or a stripped-back moment with a bloody nose after an admission of liking drugs.

Standout lyrics for me were “Wrist watch, drip drop, labels want the TikToks. Now I’m making TikTok music, what thee f*k.”

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A nod to when Doechii first gained popularity on the platform in 2021 when “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” went viral. It’s savage, funny, and a little too real in a world where being viral on TikTok can make or break careers.

The production is clever. The colour grading shifts from warm, soft hues to dark, disorienting tones that mirror the emotional pivots of the song. The transitions between scenes that are playful to poignant look seamless.

Then there’s the fashion. Doechii radiates cool. The outfits are bold, vibrant, and embodies streetwear. The music video is a full-on experience.

Doechii has an incredible mix of wit to convey an underlying message of vulnerability as she unpacks her life.

Add “DENIAL IS A RIVER” to your 2025 playlist. Maybe even book that therapy appointment.

If Doechii’s taking us on this wild ride of self-awareness, we might as well too.

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Follow DOECHII
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Tik Tok

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AMNPLIFY – DB