Introducing Antje Schomaker with her new single “Mascara”, the first track from her much-anticipated third album “Liebes Tagebuch.” This song is an ironic and laid-back breakup anthem that explores themes of freedom, letting go, and the radiant glow that often follows a breakup.
“Liebes Tagebuch” lives up to its name, recounting moments, encounters, and phases in a raw, honest, and beautiful way—like the entries found in the secret diaries of our world. Schomaker offers listeners an intimate glimpse into her own past; the diary of her youth served as the inspiration for many of the album’s lyrics. This journey touches on liberation and constriction, anger and its consequences, as well as the conclusion of enduring discomfort. Yet, it also unveils a newfound sense of calm, warmth, and positivity that resonates through the arrangements and the voice of this Hamburg singer-songwriter.
With this album, Antje Schomaker has crafted a space and sound in which she can speak clearly, vulnerably, and autonomously about the experiences that have shaped her life, and these narratives deserve to be heard by everyone, including men. The album emerges as a collection rich in truth and life, sharply observed and brilliantly expressed musically.
The world is filled with breakup songs that theatrically mourn the end of a relationship, curse love in general, or at least condemn that one person forever, often culminating in some explosive visuals in the accompanying music video. This familiar and admittedly overused narrative, while rooted in genuine emotion, is given a refreshing twist by Schomaker’s astute storytelling. In “Mascara,” she opts for a different perspective, playfully capturing the sense of freedom that comes after heartache and the excitement of embracing a newfound independence.
photo by Amelie SiegmundWorking alongside Sarah Muldoon and Malte Kuhn, the track features airy synths and a perfectly upbeat tempo, creating a clear canvas for Antje’s voice, which gently intertwines with the instrumentation. Even the guitar moment that accompanies the cheeky “Fuck you” has a wink to it; one could say it’s a playful nod with zero points for sentimentality.
“Waving goodbye with my last makeup wipe, the best mascara is a life without you, no tears on my face,” Antje sings in the chorus, and you can almost hear the twinkle in her eye as she delivers this line. The lyrics reveal a sense of empowerment that lies not just in distance and the ability to let go, but also in the humour that feels even sweeter because it had to be earned. This is how the legendary post-breakup glow comes to life; no beauty treatment in the world can bring forth the physical and emotional sensations of finally feeling whole again.
