Sofie Royer is back with a new album—after three critically acclaimed LPs, the Viennese musician’s songwriting and production have become more complex and polished, while her lyrics are sharper and, at the same time, more humorous. *before/after* is her most compelling work to date: an album that addresses the challenges of life as an artist and blends personal self-reflection with social commentary.

Sofie has evolved from a lo-fi producer into an established pop musician who has already performed as an opening act for Lana Del Rey, Air, and LCD Soundsystem. Her new album was produced in collaboration with producers Matt Cohn (who has worked with SZA and The Weeknd, among others), Jorgen Odegard (Sabrina Carpenter), and Eli Hirsch (Suki Waterhouse). Yet she still doesn’t quite know where she belongs.

She doesn’t hold back with her criticism of the music industry: “I’m too pop for the art world, too much of an indie darling for the mainstream.” Her harshest judgments, however, are directed at herself.

In twelve catchy pop songs, Royer asks whether the conflicts between the past and the future aren’t ultimately struggles with one’s own self. “We are constantly caught between the before and the after,” she explains. “These two states of time occupy our minds incessantly. But by remaining entangled in them, we often become our own greatest obstacle. In the state of before/after, it ultimately always comes down to the same conflict: you against yourself.”