Jennifer Alvarado Confronts the Hard Stuff on New EP Lately

Jennifer Alvarado isn’t one to shy away from difficult conversations, and her new EP 'Lately' proves it. Released during Mental Health Awareness Month, the five-track project is a bold, unfiltered look at depression, disordered eating, and spiritual disillusionment, wrapped in a sound that blends ‘90s country with Americana grit.

The title track opens the floodgates with raw lyrics about the numbing effects of depression. “The pills aren’t working / And I feel kinda hollow,” Alvarado sings, cutting straight to the point. This isn't heartbreak pop or vague sadness; it's a real-time reckoning with mental illness.

Tracks like “Wake Up Alice” and “Dear Ana” push the envelope further, tackling eating disorders with disarming honesty. Alvarado doesn’t sugarcoat or sidestep. She calls these struggles by name and challenges listeners to confront them too.

Then there’s “Jesus In A Bar,” arguably the EP’s most provocative moment. But it’s not provocation for shock’s sake. It asks what happens when judgment overshadows compassion, especially in spaces meant to offer healing. Alvarado’s message? Love should be louder than shame.

'Lately' isn’t about tying things up with a bow. It’s about opening the box in the first place. In just five songs, Jennifer Alvarado creates a space for truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, especially when it’s uncomfortable.