There is a transfixing and immersive flow to the new single ‘7 Up’ from Phoebe Go (the solo project of Phoebe Lou) which projects it forward with a high stepping canter, emitting a brilliant ray of sunshine. Lou’s vocals are silken and melancholy, the lyrics personal and yearning and the instrumentation shimmering with a delicate shuffle. There is a translucent sheen to the song – light and airy like a single fluffy cloud in the bright blue sky. And yet there are shadows at the edges, a bittersweet concoction.
Go says of the track:
To me this song has a kind of recklessness and a rush about it. but maybe that’s the whole point. that’s how letting go feels sometimes. I didn’t plan on writing this song, but I think it was time. I guess I realised that I’d been putting someone else before myself for a while, which is sweet, you know, but it gets old and it gets tiring. ‘7 Up’ is about seeing something through different eyes. It’s about setting some shit straight.
You can see the expression in the lyrics:
you said you’d come back for me somehow
but it freaks me out that you call it 7 up now
you said you’d come back for me someday
but the angel on my back thinks you’re a gateway
and i tried to forget how much
how much you hurt me
and i dragged myself into the mess you love
deliriously
You could detect a genetic code shared with artists like Sharon Van Etten or Phoebe Bridgers, an infusion of indie folk with a dream pop burnishing, but you end up with something quite special that incandescently glows.
The accompanying video, directed by Joe Agius of Rinse and Hatchie, is a simple performance piece that captures Lou’s enigmatic presence, along with her band, with an ever changing backdrop:
‘7 Up’ is out now and you can download and stream at all the usual sites. The single was produced by ARIA nominated Simon Lam (CharliXCX, CubSport, Allday, Juice Webster, Gretta Ray).
Lou has form – she played in indie favourites Snakadaktal when at the age of 15 she and the band won the triple J Unearthed High competition.
Phoebe Go is about to embark on a tour of the US in February supporting Briston Maroney – details here – and will be releasing her debut album sometime this year. She’s certainly on Backseat Mafia’s radar.
Feature Photograph: Arjun Sohal
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