Isaac Dunbar, Makeup Drawer | Track Review 🎵

Gifted and totally woke teen musician Isaac Dunbar delivers an alternative pop bop tackling internalized homophobia on “Makeup Drawer.” 

“Insects wish the worst for me / And they befriend my enemy / And it shocks me / Oh, how it shocks me.” Sigh, the young but hella talented Isaac Dunbar already impressed in 2020 with the single “Isaac’s Insects”.  It was so much of a bop, I included it on the best-of playlist, Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: January 2020. Continuing his ascent as a teen alternative pop artist signed to RCA (!), Dunbar releases his second single of 2020, “Makeup Drawer,” set to appear on his forthcoming, major label project.

“And I know where you’ll be / You locked the door to my makeup drawer / And you know where I’ll be / Rummage galore through my makeup drawer.” “Makeup Drawer” finds Isaac Dunbar being more honest and more revealing.  Besides opening up to the audience, he also opens up to himself you might say.  “I shattered mirrors to cope / You made me hate what I saw,” he sings on the second verse, continuing, “Ooh la la la / Oh / It’s such a pity.”  Per his Instagram, Dunbar asserts:

“This song is about the struggle I had my whole life with internalized homophobia.  My sexuality was outed by someone I thought I could trust most. I hated myself because I was not surrounded by the right support system at the time.”

Wow! The bridge seems to really focus on both Dunbar’s internalized homophobia and the person who outed him:

“I just don’t know
And just don’t care
You chew my skull
I watch and star
Make sure you’re fine
Expose my life
I hope you have a real fun time.”

Final Thoughts 

As I said regarding “Isaac’s Insects,” don’t ever underestimate the young. Isaac Dunbar is a teenager, but an extremely talented, totally ‘woke’ one.  Once more Dunbar is on-point in every aspect of “Makeup Drawer” from the songwriting (particularly the theme), production, and the vocals.  Don’t sleep on this teen.

Isaac Dunbar • “Makeup Drawer” – Single • RCA • Release: 2.20.20

Photo Credit: RCA