On Anjimile’s debut album “Giver Taker,” they deal mainly with loss and the inevitable growth that comes from loss. Anjimile Chithambo (they/them, he/him) wrote a majority of the album while receiving treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, and this is one of the many factors that make “Giver Taker” feel so cyclical. As Chithambo takes us along on his own journey, he does so with introspection and intention, all of which are reflected in instrumentation choices. Chithambo’s voice is at the forefront of every song backed by delicately layered instruments that work in unison to make the album feel both gentle and evocative. The overall mood of the album reminds me of the night before starting school, full of the nostalgia, fear, and excitement of starting a new adventure.

By Emma Chekroun