Album Review: What Does It Mean?

Floyd Marsden’s anticipated third album What Does It Mean? is hitting Aotearoa this year, and it marks a clear step into a new sonic direction. Known for punchier earlier releases like Disco Lizards, this record feels noticeably more personal and reflective. It’s softer, more vulnerable, and far more inward-looking than her previous work.

Recorded across three different spaces – Home Studios, HIVE Studios, and Massey University – the album feels surprisingly cohesive from start to finish. You’d never guess it was created in multiple locations. The sound is rich and unified, featuring chiming guitars, delicate yet funky basslines, elegant piano, and dynamic drum performances – all played by Marsden herself. Her musicianship is on full display.

“It feels so unique and special to me,” Floyd says of the album, “this is the first album I’ll be releasing where my life is entirely revolved around music.”

“A big theme of the album is trying to find what your place is in a world that feels a little hostile and unfriendly – I felt for a while like it was definitely the right choice to pursue being a rock star, and then I didn’t really care for it after a while, it wasn’t the right vibe for me, so the first song and the last song on the album are very much sister songs. The opener sort of poses the question, ‘what is art and how can I make it now?’ and the closer kind of answers it. It’s not quite as pretentious as it sounds, but it’s pretty close.”

That concept is evident when listening front to back. This is an album best experienced in one sitting. The story evolves, the mood shifts, but the narrative thread never gets lost.

The record opens with Art, a cheeky, self-aware take on creativity in the modern world. It’s catchy, cleverly written, and sets the tone perfectly. It flows sweetly into track two, She’s All I Ever Write Songs About – a melancholic cut featuring lovely keys and a drum performance that grooves gently without ever overpowering the song.

Nottingham Castle continues the seamless flow of the record, with Marsden’s vocals sounding especially warm and expressive. Her voice carries the emotional weight of the album throughout.

There are plenty of gems, but a standout is Pop Song, featuring Danica Bryant. It’s irresistibly catchy, with beautiful melodies and tight harmonies that linger long after the track ends.

Shut Up and Listen does exactly what its title suggests – it commands attention. With sharp lyrics and an uplifting, almost liberating energy, it feels like a turning point on the record.

Nothing Matters, featuring Jeline, is a beautifully moody and melancholic track. Opening with the striking line, “Everybody is going to die / Aren’t you tired of asking why?”, the song reflects on mortality and the importance of making the most of the time we have. Once again, elegant harmonies weave throughout the track. The bassline is a particular highlight, providing a subtle but compelling groove that anchors the emotion of the song.

It is followed by the title track, What Does It Mean?, a more upbeat and energetic moment on the album. Vibrant drums and lively piano drive the song forward, giving it a sense of urgency and movement while still staying true to the album’s reflective core.

The final track Content feels like both a reflection and a liberation. With lines like, “These days, I’m not bothered by / Anything that used to make me cry,” and “I don’t need all this content / For I, for I am just content,” Marsden seems to arrive at a place of acceptance. It provides a fitting and thoughtful close to a record that begins by questioning art and ends by quietly answering it.

Overall, this album is a compelling and carefully constructed body of work. Every detail feels intentional. It highlights her growth, versatility, and confidence as both a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Definitely one to check out – and one to experience from start to finish.