FLETCHER surrenders and finds peace through a breakup on new album ‘Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me?’
Cari Elise Fletcher, better known by her last name, FLETCHER, breathes life and honesty into a personal record about navigating romantic love with self-love. A rustic combination of soft, angelic instrumentals is grounded by raw guitar instrumentals and passionate vocals that showcase FLETCHER’s desire to push through heartache and self-doubt; all to find harmony within herself and balance her past with her present and future.
“Party” opens Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me? with whimsical, fairy-like instrumentals and lyrics that expose the romanticized versions of people we create in our heads, who never live up to the perfection we convince ourselves is there: “Girl, I could just rock on and roll/Like a dog and pony show/But that would bе a lie, lie, lie, you know/Just to make you happy, so/Keep the cake and the cheap confetti falling/This celebration's been a little too long/And if you came here searching for a good time, let me tell ya/Tequila ain't the reason that I'm so far gone.” She equates the frilly decorations at a party to the superficial aspects that we believe define a person, when in reality, it is what lies beneath the surface that exposes us to the world. In “Hi, Everyone Leave Please,” FLETCHER continues this sentiment as she ruminates on society’s high expectations that no matter what, everyone will fail to meet: “I know it sounds like I'm jaded, but I just think that it's stupid/That we put humans on pedestals and expect them not to lose it/Shoutin’ in the abyss, now you think I'm a bitch/Then why you blowin' a kiss? Why do I care about it?” Her vocals here are more stripped-back, reflecting her openness with listeners and revealing her most honest self.
“Hi, Everyone Leave Please” Official Music Video Directed by Birthplace
Her honesty builds to “Boy,” a track about falling in love with a boy and how she feels this is a secret she needs to keep: “I've been sitting on a secret/And I don't think I can keep it anymore/I’ve been hiding out in Northern California/Where nobody knows who I was before/Where they won't judge me in the morning.” Although she is conflicted, FLETCHER doesn’t let fear stop her. Throughout her career, FLETCHER has only been in public relationships with women. “Boy” represents that although she is in a relationship with a man, her sexuality remains valid.
Throughout the remaining songs off the album, FLETCHER finds truth through reflecting on past relationships. “Don’t Tempt Me…” represents the beginning of a new relationship, when we want to hide our true selves and keep our defenses up, but at the same time, want to tear the walls down and be set free: “She look real fit, got the stamina/The game is real good, why she sad, bruh?/You got a Corvette, drive it faster/Go faster, and faster/Such a pretty face, Miss America/Take me to the church like a pastor/You're all standing up, but I can't stand her/No, I can't stand her.” With more grounded vocals and instrumentals, “Distance” reflects the feeling of finally accepting that someone isn’t the right person for you: “You know I want the best for you, if it means setting you free/Even with an ego bruised, I would choose seeing you happy.” Before moving on completely, however, FLETCHER cries out for one more chance on “Good Girl/Gone Girl.” In the bridge, she hopes for a change of heart: “You know I want the best for you, if it means setting you free/Even with an ego bruised, I would choose seeing you happy.”
“Good Girl/Gone Girl” Official Music Video Directed by Carissa Gallo
“The Arsonist” is the most groovy, yet modern, and upbeat song off the album, although the subject matter is the most personal and self-reflective yet. FLETCHER takes accountability for a relationship that fell through. However, the lyrics could also point to the complex relationship she has with society and the music industry: “Mirror on the wall, tell me what you see/Am I just paranoid, or is everybody looking at me?/I think I'll hide/‘Cause I'm not here for your entertainment/You’re tryna take my soul and, baby, you ain't even paying, oh/Oh-oh/If I toss a match, then I'll end up in ashes this time.” In “Chaos,” FLETCHER dives into a similar situation, but rather than accepting the external stress factors in her life, she taps into a more emotional back-and-forth. There is an interesting push and pull between the verses and chorus as each verse before the chorus is sped up, with instrumentals and vocals that stumble over each other, much like thoughts racing back and forth in our minds, before the chorus hits and slows down as the vocals become deeper and more powerful: “Some days I'm a fast car learning how to drive/Drive around the mountain, gonna lose my mind/Remind me where I'm going 'cause I don't know why/Why I can't get satisfied.”
In a powerful conclusion, FLETCHER leaves listeners with a spoken outro in the title track, “Would You Still Love Me?” She finds peace after a breakup and, above all, she hopes to find enough love within herself to never require dependence on someone or something else: “I don't know much, but one thing I'm sure of is that I'm forever grateful that we watched each other grow/Played a small part in walking each other home/For you, for the me I was, and who I am yet to become/My love for every version of us runs deep as the ocean blue/And I hope you know every word I ever said to you is true.”
Give Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me? a listen to form your own opinion and let us know what you think of FLETCHER’s latest ruminations on love and identity.
