Rae Lou – Suffocate (2023)
Inspired by the likes of Alicia Keys, Adele and Freya Ridings, UK-based Rae Lou is a passionate singer-songwriter, and you can hear the passion oozing from her music. While studying performing arts at Salford University, Rae Lou discovered her love for singing; however, it was in Hong Kong that she “found her voice”. Singing alongside bands like Gramophonic Vogue in 2017 and as a backing vocalist for Nicole Scherzinger in 2019, her confidence went from strength to strength. Now she reaches audiences across the globe with her poetic debut single ‘Suffocate’.
Working in collaboration with producer George Fitzgibbon, ‘Suffocate’ embodies raw intimacy within a soothing soul package. Simplistic in its sound, Lou’s vocals match a tender piano; however, despite the minimalist nature, ‘Suffocate’ is kaleidoscopic showing how basics can be beautiful. Reminiscent of Alicia Keys with the charm of Florence Welch, Rae Lou’s sophisticated vocals tear at your heart sending shivers down your spine while still being warm and comforting.
While the melody can have me hitting the repeat button, particularly with Rae Lou’s insatiable vocals, it is the theme and beautiful lyricism that makes the track profound. Inspired by the upcoming UK film Watching Goldfish Suffocate, ‘Suffocate’ captures feelings of anxiety, fear and inner turmoil while touching on issues of mental health.
“The lyrics delve into the relationship with self, and I clearly imagined a character having a conversation in the mirror when I wrote the chorus. It’s very much a call to action, imploring “don’t just watch me suffocate”, pleading yourself to help yourself when you’re stuck in a dark place…music holds the beautiful power of connecting us more with our emotions, so I like to think that’s what this song has the power to do.” – Rae Lou on ‘Suffocate’
Dark and brooding but warm and filled with sincerity, Rae Lou hypnotises audiences with her debut single ‘Suffocate’.
For more from Rae Lou, check out her Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
