The world has enough breakup songs. UK indie pop singer Carley Varley understands this, so her latest single, “Shore,” explores the fragile moments leading up to that potential breakup, successfully presenting us with the rare but always beautiful ‘make-up’ song.
All relationships – be it with family, friends, or lovers – will inevitably face trying times. “Shore” plays like a step-by-step relationship guide to navigate these troubles in an effort to come out stronger on the other side. “Wait, don’t leave like this/Our fights we can’t predict, let’s give our hearts a minute.” Preaching patience and healthy communication, Carley accepts that our relationships “won’t always be in the clouds.” Once we reach the chorus however, Carley drops a devastating truth bomb that is heartbreakingly relatable: despite our efforts to work out our problems and salvage the relationship, “we may not be sure if we want this anymore.” Oof. Every couple – even the ones that last forever – comes to this crossroads where they have to decide whether they both want this thing to last forever, and in my opinion that is a highly concentrated life moment that is not represented in song very often. Carley’s optimistic, but she’s also realistic. Not every story has a happy ending.
Not only is “Shore” a heart-rending lyrical gem, it’s also a perfectly written song. This delicate moment in life is underscored by an equally delicate ensemble of ukulele, hollow synths, and gentle snaps and hand claps. The arrangement, the melodies, the instrumentation – it all captures the mood so expertly and Carley has crafted a 5-star track where music and lyric work together in perfect harmony. Beginner songwriters should keep this song in their back pocket as a reminder of what they should be striving for in their music.
Miss Varley has had a recent string of increasingly successful singles over the last several years, and with “Shore” she seems to have reached a new plateau of artistic accomplishment. Her music is some of the most exciting and charming we’ve heard in some time, and she could certainly turn out to be one of 2022’s brightest stars.
Written by Tim Clark
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