HAIM Spins On Heartbreak With “Relationships”
The beloved sister band from Los Angeles are back with their brand new single “Relationships,” a song that marks their first piece of music since 2023. Co-produced by Danielle Haim and Rostam Batmanglij, this track carries fingerprints of 90s R&B pairing its minimalist funk with lyrics that make us ponder about patterns we unknowingly make in romance. “Relationships” feels like a late-night conversation with yourself, running through the “what ifs” of love and how we fall into it, fall out of it and somehow always find our way back. Irresistibly groovy, the track leans into the band’s talent for blending storytelling with effortlessly cool melodies that are accompanied by incredible instrumentation. The lyrics fight whether heartbreak is immature or if all great loves are doomed to end the same way.
Photo by Morgan Maher
In the chorus, Danielle Haim sings “ Baby, how can I explain / When an innocent mistake / Turns into seventeen days? / Fuckin' relationships / Don't they all end up the same / When there's no one left to blame? / I think I'm in love, but I can't stand fuckin' relationships,” the frustration in the lead singer’s voice is visible, it shows a moment of exhausted realization. This kind hits after having the same argument over and over again. HAIM captures the contradictions and messiness of love. They talk about thinking they’re in love but admit that they “can’t stand fuckin’ relationships”, demonstrating the universal sentiment of wanting love but sometimes hating everything that comes with it.
Musically, the track’s groove and incredible bass lines allow the theme to breathe. The bass line pulses steadily and the drumbeat maintains the same persistent yet gentle rhythm, creating a mirror of the endless loop of the romantic troubles the lyrics explore. There’s a warmth feeling to the lyrics and production, as if HAIM is extending a hand to listeners saying “We’ve been here too.”
The song’s music video directed by Camille Summers-Vali reinforces this sense of reflection. Starring Drew Starkey as Danielle Haim’s love interest, the video plays in reverse, as the visual follows the sisters moving out of a house post-breakup, this visual paired with the song’s vibe makes “Relationships” feel like a soundtrack to flipping through old memories, questioning where everything went wrong yet knowing deep down that it will most likely repeat itself. Adding to the song’s playful yet deep energy its cover art, which gives us the idea of HAIM recreating Nicole Kidman’s “divorce day” papparazzi moment. The cover art is a clever and lively touch, as it reinforces the song’s themes of freedom and having a “fresh start” while also highlighting the band’s famous humor. It is a reminder that even in heartbreak, there’s always room for humor.
With this brand new song, HAIM delivers an effortlessly cool track, making the complexities of love feel light yet deeply relatable. It is a song that lingers, much like the relationships it reflects on, always finding its way back to you.
