Self Care (album)

Yours Truly formed in Sydney, Australia in 2016, with a line-up of Mikaila Delgado on vocals, Teddie Winder-Haron and Lachlan Cronin on guitar and Bradley Cronon on drums. The following year, they released their debut EP, Too Late for Apologies, which they promoted with shows alongside Forever Ends Here and Tonight Alive. "High Hopes" was issued as a single in 2018, garnering radio play across the country and earning the band supporting dates for Say Anything and We the Kings. Yours Truly then released their next EP, Afterglow, in 2019;^[4] that same year, they appeared at Riot Fest and supported Senses Fail in the United States,^[5][6] and supported Sum 41 in the United Kingdom.^[7]

Recording sessions for the album were held at Electric Sun Studios and took place throughout 2019 and 2020; the band and Stevie Knight produced the album.^[1][8] Knight also acted as engineer and handled recording, with assistance from Craig Wilkinson. James Paul Wisner mixed the recordings at Wisner Productions while Grant Berry mastered the album at Fader Mastering.^[8]

The album was confirmed by the band's publicist on 16 April 2020, alongside the release of the lead single;^[9] before later being officially announced on 7 July 2020, alongside the release of the second single.^[3] Into the Pit described the album artwork as featuring "an embroided anatomical heart". The cover was designed by Georgia Maloney.^[10]

The album was preceded by four singles: lead single "Composure", released on 16 April 2020,^[9] "Together", released on 7 July 2020,^[3] "Undersize", released on 4 August 2020,^[11] "Funeral Home", released on 3 September 2020^[12] and "Siamese Souls", released on 12 May 2021.^[13]

On 17 July 2020, Yours Truly performed live on Triple J's Like a Version segment, performing a cover of Oasis's "Don't Look Back in Anger" and their track "Composure".^[14] Yours Truly was planned to appear in the US as part of the Sad Summer Fest touring festival in July and August 2020,^[15] but this was postponed to July and August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[16]

Writing for Tone Deaf, journalist Tyler Jenke described the album as "an important release for this exceptional outfit, and one that will resonate for years to come."^[18]

Wall of Sound felt that the album represented the band "stepping up onto a comfortable pedestal" and additionally called the album "a breath of fresh air for any music fan."^[17]

Depth Mag's Andrew Cauchi called the album "a fearless charge into stardom for one of Australia's most promising talents".^[2] Cauchi additionally thought the album "[declared] the band's credentials on the global stage" and likened it to Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson's early 2000s releases.^[2]

Noizze's Will Marshall stated: "Listening to Self Care feels like going through life with your best friend by your side, a supportive companion to get you through the toughest times with empathy and levity."^[19] Marshall added: "This album... should make Yours Truly the pop-punk superstars they deserve to be."^[19]

Into the Pit's Sian Wilkins praised the album, writing: "Yours Truly literally threw this album at the industry as a force to be reckoned with: it adds to their catalogue of flawless material and demonstrates their growth as an outfit."^[10]

Self Care debuted and peaked at number 19 on the ARIA Albums Chart for the chart dated 28 September 2020.^[20] The following week, the album fell more than thirty-one places into the lower fifty.^[21]

Adapted from Apple Music. All music written by Yours Truly, all lyrics by Mikaila Delgado.^[23]

Adapted from the album's liner notes.^[8]