Suki Waterhouse breathes to life a sultry new character in her latest single “On This Love”
“On This Love” Official Music Video directed by Immy Waterhouse
Waterhouse introduces us to a glamorous and melancholy “damsel in distress” ruminating on the relationship between her and her husband and her husband’s mistress: “I ask you a question, you still seeing her?/ You pull me so hard, you say it's over/ You rock my body, now I'm seeing stars/ I dream and you leave in your getaway car/ He won't settle down, but the damsel's distressed/And I won't keep a man if he loves his mistress.” A plucky guitar instrumental introduces luscious and seductive vocals from Waterhouse that you cannot help but become entranced by. Waterhouse has become a master at painting a hyper-stylized picture of the feelings she wants to express and explore. Through the different personas she dreams of, Waterhouse does not rely on musical elements alone to bring her visions to life. She captures the essence of her emotions through a quirky ensemble of characters so listeners can understand the full story. Waterhouse allows room for listeners to let their imaginations run wild and envision her characters across different universes.
Drums and a tangy electric guitar throw you into a whimsical, passionate, and sensual chorus: “Do you hear me, baby?/ Do you feel me, baby?/ I think you want me baby/ You’re just like a drug, I can OD on this love/ Just like a drug, I can OD on this love.” The repetition in the chorus, combined with the alluring instrumentals and breathy vocals, creates a hypnotic effect. You feel like you are driving in a convertible, the wind tangling your hair as your arms sway toward the sky, hoping you might float away into the clouds.
Although the song is short and sweet, like much of her discography, Waterhouse always packs a punch, and “On This Love” is no exception. Her lyrics never feel forced, like something she has taken straight from the pages of her most secret diary: “All the days that I wait for my turn/ I write hand-written letters, you're a man of few words/ In your back pocket, I'm waiting for news/ Record keeps spinning, I'm dancing the blues.” With “On This Love” Waterhouse enters a new era, but one that she has been masterfully crafting throughout her entire musical career. She has, without a doubt, found her voice, and she is slowly but surely building her cast of characters, carefully preparing them for whatever project she has in store for us next.
photo by Muriel Margaret @worldfamousmuriel
Be sure to give “On This Love” a listen (or two, or three… or keep it on a loop!) and quickly fall into a trance in Waterhouse’s dreamy, sultry, and sparkle-filled world.
