Written by Anika Trotman
Break out artist Unflirt draws on a sound that largely originated during the golden age of music for Gen-Z. It’s reminiscent of the bedroom pop revolution that propelled into the limelight circa 2015, with indie and soft rock elements that make listening to her oh so easy. Since she discovered her voice at the height of the global pandemic, she has let us into her inner world in all of the art she’s released – it’s genuine, raw, and it’s the real deal.
In Unflirt’s latest single, ‘Cut My Hair’, listeners are serenaded by a sweet sounding melody and airy vocals. However, lyrically, the track unfolds itself to reveal something a bit more melancholic. With straight- shooting phrasing, citing the weight of the “human condition” in this lush indie-pop track, listeners are guided through the sickening nostalgia, limerence, and general restlessness that autumn tends to bring (with a release date coinciding with that exact season, reinforcing the very notion). It forces them to confront what is both true and uncomfortable, while listening to a catchy track. Time seems to suspend itself in this cheerfully disguised lament; power chords woven into the pre-chorus and throughout the chorus seem to underline and emphasize what it means to be young, which includes feeling lost. At barely 3 minutes, listeners are reminded just how fleeting the emotions that wash over the track are.
This track is not completely unlike previous works from Unflirt. It’s- vulnerable, deeply personal but slightly detached from the subject matter that’s being sung about to her audience.
This track is not completely unlike previous works from Unflirt. It’s vulnerable, deeply personal but slightly detached from the subject matter that’s being sung about to her audience. It’s clear that Unflirt only gets better as time goes on and this track demonstrates the work she has put into refining her sound. Compared to earlier works like ‘Crush’, or ‘Before Dawn’, ‘Cut My Hair’ departs from her velvety smooth, almost acid rock-eque sound and trades it in for something more stripped down and intimate.
New listeners may draw parallels with the music of artists such as Beabadobee or Clairo, with lyricism as poignant as Mitski. However, ‘Cut My Hair’ has the understated fortitude to stand in a lane of it’s own. She croons, yearning to “be someone” but given the projected success of her EP, Fleeting, it’s fair to say that Unflirt is already someone we all have our eyes on with wonder and anticipation for what’s next.
‘Cut My Hair’ is out now and available to listen to on streaming services. Get a ticket to one of the tour dates below to see Unflirt live!
22 November – Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
23 November – The Deaf Institute, London, United Kingdom
25 November – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, United Kingdom
5 December – Supersonic, Paris, France
Leave a Reply