Rising singer-songwriter Suki Summer releases the sultry, whimsical new single ‘Marianne’.
Built around a soundscape brimming with 70s aura, the track is as comparable to Artic Monkey’s recent work as it is to Lana Del Rey. Twinkling synths, warming bass, swelling guitar tones and boxy drums create an immersive, vintage tone under the silky smooth, evocative lead vocals.
Thematically ‘Marianne’ delves into the vulnerability and transience of fleeting connections, inspired by Suki’s summer travels through Europe and a brief romance that left a lasting impression. Reflecting on the track’s origins, Suki shares, “This song explores my relationship with intimacy and vulnerability. It encapsulates a time we spent together—beautiful and fun but tinged with the sadness of knowing it would end with the summer.” The name and central hook of the track stem from her companion’s comparison of Suki to Marianne, a character from Sally Rooney’s Normal People, further deepening the emotional resonance of the song.
The verses weave between reflective nostalgia and a longing for an alternate outcome where goodbyes weren’t inevitable. Suki’s raw and melancholic vocal delivery, layered with harmonies and set against dreamy instrumentation by Basil, captures the romantic highs and bittersweet lows of the experience. “Recording this song was cathartic,” Suki explains. “Neil, my recording engineer, helped me bring out the vulnerability in my performance, allowing the song to truly come alive.”
Marianne serves as a heartfelt ode to the impermanence of summer love and the personal growth it can inspire. “Sometimes you meet someone, and it’s like finally holding onto the side of the pool after treading water for so long,” reflects Suki. “This song allowed me to explore my own vulnerability, and for that, I’m grateful.”
Listen below:
