Maps of Music

The Anxiety (2020)

Where the lyrics of The Anxiety take you, and where it was really made.

The album did not chart when it came out in March 2020, but it entered charts in late 2021 after a TikTok sleeper hit.

Place unknown

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The Anxiety: collaborative studio album by American musicians Willow Smith and Tyler Cole
Recorded and released under the band name the Anxiety
Released 13 March 2020 by MSFTSMusic and Roc Nation
Genres: punk, indie rock, alternative rock, dream pop, progressive rock
First half mostly uptempo rhythms and punchy riffs; lo-fi around the middle
Second half contains pensive R&B and drone-like ballads
Lyrical themes: anxiety, rage, panic attacks, government corruption

Willow Smith and Tyler Cole were romantic partners and artistic collaborators for several years
Cole co-produced Willow Smith's 2019 self-titled album before this project
Debut single "Hey You!" released 28 February 2020
Promotion included a performance art piece at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, on 11 March 2020
Duo locked in a glass box for 24 hours, not allowed to speak to each other
One wall was clear for viewers; the other three were canvas for writing affirmations
Performance represented eight stages of anxiety, each lasting three hours
Stages: paranoia, rage, sadness, numbness, euphoria, strong interest, compassion, acceptance
Performance seen as topical because it took place days before COVID-19 lockdowns in the United States

Willow Camille Reign Smith, born October 31, 2000 in Los Angeles, known mononymously as Willow.
Started as a child actress with I Am Legend (2007), then shifted to music under the name Willow.
Signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2010, becoming the label's youngest artist.

Solo artist; co-formed the duo Melodic Chaotic with DJ Fabrega (2013) and the duo The Anxiety with Tyler Cole (2020).

Debut single "Whip My Hair" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified 3× platinum by the RIAA.
Debut album Ardipithecus (2015) on Roc Nation and Interscope; "Wait a Minute!" became a sleeper hit via TikTok and was certified 2× platinum.
Moved from pop toward pop-punk on Lately I Feel Everything (2021) and Coping Mechanism (2022), then toward art pop, jazz, and funk on Empathogen (2024), which earned two Grammy nominations.
Eight solo albums to date, including Petal Rock Black (2026) and The Thread (2026).
Co-hosted the Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk (2018–2023), which won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show, Informative in 2021.
Supporting act for Childish Gambino (2024) and Coldplay (2025).

The album did not chart at the time of its release in March 2020
Released 13 March 2020 by MSFTSMusic and Roc Nation
Music described as a mix of punk, indie rock, alternative rock, dream pop, and progressive rock
Uptempo rhythms and punchy riffs make up the first half of the record

In late 2021 the album entered charts after album track "Meet Me at Our Spot" became a sleeper hit on TikTok
The renewed attention came long after the original release

The duo's performance piece at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles was staged just days before COVID-19 lockdowns began in the United States.
Each of the eight stages of anxiety in the performance lasted three hours.
Cole co-produced Willow Smith's 2019 self-titled album before working on this project.
The album's track "Meet Me at Our Spot" became a sleeper hit on TikTok long after release.