Cleo Sol’s music soothes as it searches inwards. The soul singer and SAULT vocalist’s new album, Mother, explores the many emotions she associates with motherhood: the ecstasy that accompanies the birth of her child, the mix of empathy and resentment she feels for her own mother, the way her upbringing—“raised under a roof of unfinished dreams”—inhibits her ability to accept love as an adult.

On “23,” one of the album’s best and most nuanced songs, Sol acknowledges her mother’s lifelong frustrations while also criticizing her for refusing to take responsibility for her actions. “Are you still stuck in your teens?” she asks, not unkindly. Despite the pain of the memories, “23” remains optimistic, uplifted by Sol’s radiant, lilting falsetto, a jubilant backing choir, and a piano and harp outro that could soundtrack a Disney movie. Sol insists on also honoring her mother’s sacrifices, singing, “The little stars and the locked-up dreams/The missing pieces, they’re in me.” It’s a gorgeous testament to holding the people we love accountable while also extending grace and understanding.