Lexa Gates Steps Fully Into Herself on Sophomore Album I Am

There’s an inspiring theme of confidence that resonates throughout Lexa Gates' sophomore album, I Am.  At just 24, Gates isn’t posturing or chasing momentum; she’s documenting it. The album reads like a personal ledger, one written with clarity and restraint, tracing growth not as a breakthrough moment but as a steady, intentional process.

Named after her given name, Ivanna Alexandra Martinez, I Am serves as both an autobiography and a declaration. Across 18 tracks, Gates balances stripped-down vocals with sharp, conversational bars, moving fluidly between reflection and resolve. The project includes previously released singles like “Latency,” “Past It,” “Estranged,” and “Nothing to Worry About,” while bringing together production from Emile Haynie, Jasper Harris, and Black Noise—each adding texture without diluting her voice.

The focus track, “I Don’t Even Know,” captures the album’s core tension: self-awareness without certainty. Gates sounds grounded but curious, self-possessed but still questioning. That balance has become her signature, music that feels effortless on the surface, yet carries the weight of lived experience underneath.

To mark the album’s release, Gates unveiled her second immersive art installation, The Wheel, a 10-hour durational performance held at Jeffrey Deitch in New York City. For the entire piece, Gates remained in motion on a custom-built, human-scale wheel—an endurance-based work reflecting cycles of persistence, time, and emotional repetition. The installation expands on the themes of I Am while continuing her exploration of performance art as an extension of her music, following the viral success of her 2024 piece Alone (In The Box).

Gates’ rise hasn’t gone unnoticed. Over the past year, she’s earned critical praise for both her lyrical precision and her broader creative vision, with outlets highlighting her as one of New York’s most compelling emerging voices. She wrapped a 16-date North American tour with a sold-out hometown show at Webster Hall and delivered standout festival performances across the U.S. and UK, quietly building a reputation as a commanding live presence. This summer, Gates will bring that presence to the Governors Ball, performing in her hometown of Queens. It’s a fitting next step for an artist whose work is deeply tied to place, identity, and personal history.

 I AM TRACKLIST:

1. It Goes On

2. Ight

3. I Don’t Even Know

4. Estranged

5. Past It

6. Change

7. You’re Better Off

8. From

9. Stop Me

10. Rest Of My Life

11. All Work No Play

12. You Don’t Give A Fuck About Me

13. Last Day

14. Nothing To Worry About

15. Anointed

16. Latency

17. Dead Wrong

18. Serious

I Am is available now via Capitol Music Group

Images By: Austin Babbit