Being torn away from your best friend in slow motion, as you watch their world find less and less space for you, cuts deeper than most people would ever admit. There is almost a stigma attached to the emotion, but North East singer-songwriter Lauren Amour breaks through the shame with her latest single, Best Friend, a cinematic pop ballad that hits like razor blades to the heartstrings.
The artfully poised production lets strings and synths pirouette through a glossy pop frame, exposing every detail within the scars left behind where connection used to be. Best Friend understands the specific cruelty of platonic heartbreak: the bitterness, the embarrassment, the weird grief of missing someone while feeling ridiculous for missing them that much. Armour gives that feeling dignity. Her voice places vibrato notes in all the right places, then sends soaring sparks of energy around mournfully stripped-bare harmony until the track feels standing ovation-worthy.
Armour has been writing and performing since childhood, building a sound around emotional storytelling, cinematic scale and deeply personal pop confession. Her career already carries serious movement, from supporting The Vamps before 20,000 people to headlining Hotel Café in Hollywood and gaining attention from Cyndi Lauper.
Fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Birdy, Maisie Peters and Cyndi Lauper’s emotionally direct pop should find Best Friend painfully easy to connect with. It gives listeners permission to forgive the bitter feelings and remember that platonic loss can be absolutely brutal.
Best Friend is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
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