From the UK, singer-songwriter Dulcie gifts us her debut single “Medicate Me,” an irresistibly catchy track all the way around. Between all the feelgood melodies, funky grooves, and irresistible atmosphere there is so much to love about this song. What’s most impressive, though, is what’s layered beneath the fun – an insightful discussion around mental health based on the artist’s real-life struggles which really gives this song immense depth.
On the surface, “Medicate Me” is beyond captivating. It’s the perfect example of a great, catchy pop song that still has meat on its bones. It’s not hollow or worn out after a handful of listens; it continues to deliver after multiple repeats because plenty of hard work was put into the details. The bright, multi-layered production, the vocal harmonies and subtle inflections, the heartfelt performance that still maintains its bounce. Artists like Gaga, Dua Lipa, and Ariana Grande are able to sustain massive success because they care about their art and they live it passionately every single day. There is so much passion and painstaking diligence that went into the writing and recording of this song that you can practically see it seeping through its pores. Dulcie clearly had a vision for this track and was not satisfied until it met her own standards, and as an audience member that is one of the things that should not go unrecognized. This track is essentially perfect.
Lyrically, this song deals with mental health, the antithesis of the bright and vivacious production that’s been making us groove. Having had her own struggles with antidepressants and medication, Dulcie gives us a pleasantly positive twist on the topic which seems to help make its acceptance a little easier. Ballads and slow songs are often so emotionally taxing that one needs to be in the right mood if they want to listen (how many times in 2018 did we have to listen to “Shallow” against our will?) Unfortunately, that means a lot of people are missing the message within that they may need to hear. With a danceable, good-time electropop beat beneath it, listeners are more likely to actually hear Dulcie when she says “The sunrise only comes after the night/Behind those tears there’s a beautiful smile inside, you’ve just gotta find.”
This is an incredible song. Although you may think of it as a throwaway pop track at first glance, it is far from that and it is clear that this song was made with a lot of love. That dedication to her art – and the fact that “Medicate Me” is her debut single – is what makes Dulcie a very, very dangerous newcomer.
Written by Tim Clark
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