On the follow-up to her 2022 debut Shadow Works, Fort Wayne artist Crystal C-Note ramps up the aggression.

She’s known for her good vibes and passion for surrounding herself with positive people, so if negative folks did not get the message on Shadow Works, C-Note is making it clear on Wake Up.

Right out of the gate, you’re going to want to be sure your speakers are up to snuff, or the title track with Z.B. might blow them. If those speakers are not rattling after the opening track, they will get put to the test once again with “Not My Mansion,” with T Zank and Deceptaconz adding vocals.

Wake Up has a much more hip-hop feel than her poppier debut, and “Fix My Brain” with Drew Lines is among the more aggressive with C-Note unleashing on the mic. 

There are tamer tracks on her sophomore effort, such as “Walk on By.” With guitarists Adam Baker and Arthur Mock joining her on the track, the song has a much groovier, chill vibe. Baker returns on “Fake Even,” which is the one of most relaxing songs on the album.

However, after the laid-back interlude, C-Note turns it back up “Paddy Wack,” an anthemic song that is sure to have people singing along. “A Lot of Things” is another one of those songs where she’s letting it fly, getting her message out over a driving guitar riff and melodic keys.

Joined by Ben Frankie on “Not Backin Down,” she lets it known she is not backing down to anyone: “The devil’s trying to catch these hands.” 

Things get turned way down on “Too Far (Stripped),” where it’s just C-Note, a guitar, and gentle cymbals. But just when you think things are getting calm, “Let Me Tell” cranks things back up with some guitar riffs and C-Note and Tmbr Wolf Tone motivating you to “put your hands” up if you’re tired of being downtrodden.

Struggling to keep a relationship going is central to “Never Said” and C-Note closes things out with “Where’s My Crown,” where she lets you know she won’t be changing anytime soon.

If you’re not familiar with Crystal C-Note, Wake Up serves as a tutorial. Whether through pop, rap, or singer-songwriter, she is not changing for anyone.