Indigo Stella’s debut album is a series of relatable notes to self. The South African rapper’s storytelling is embellished with words of affirmation that reveal an individual who keeps her eyes on the silver lining. “I lost some friends, I lost some family but that’s just how it had to be/I know I got angels on dial speed,” she raps on “Wait on Me (Throne).” On “Mirror,” she reminds herself to breathe: “When the pressure’s on, open up your lungs, kid/And look in the mirror, you good.” More words of affirmation come courtesy of one of Stella’s biggest inspirations, the rapper Nasty C: “I just wanna say you outta here, keep pressing, keep applying that pressure,” he cheers her on on “Twice.” Bursting with musicality, Interstella also showcases the rapper’s wide frame of reference. In the first half of the project, her vocals and raps maneuver between trap and R&B production, while the second half, punctuated by songs like “Chop My Life,” “Life on Line,” and “Heated,” sees her flip to Afro-fusion/Afrobeats, percussive Afro-house, and soul-infused Afropop. For the album closer, “Luv Letter 2 Me,” Stella emotively celebrates her fulfilling journey: “They used to laugh, and now they ask if they can sit right in the front row.”