Never one to scratch at the surface of superficiality with her lyricism, Holly Wilks is building a legacy by piecing together the fragments of the human experience, allowing her fans to see the bigger picture. Her latest single, Me (and all the versions I’ve never been), may be ethereal, but its weightlessness doesn’t detract from its impact. The melancholy within the lyrics cascades through the dreamy ambient hues, nodding to contemporary pop trends before drifting beyond the mould.
With razor-sharp confessions that affirm just how much painful introspection was poured into the release, Wilks is guaranteed to ease coming-of-age pains. Any fans of Mitski and Lucy Dacus will instantly feel at home within the bitter-sweet vignette, which explores how our deepest longings aren’t for material possession, idealised romantic dynamics, or status—it’s being the best version of ourselves, with no idea how to get there.
“I’m smaller than I’m meant to be” is a lyric that will haunt me for the rest of time. Amid widescreen indie melodies and smoky, ageless vocals, raw obsessive thoughts oscillate through the release which occupies instrumental spaces other songwriters wouldn’t dare to fill. If you’re tired of songs that skim the surface, Wilks is waiting with a track that cuts deep.
Me is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, now.
Review by Amelia Vandergast