BEST NEW MUSIC: CHARLOTTE LAWRENCE - WHY DO YOU LOVE ME

If someone were to ask me to picture the ideal representation of a dark pop song, I think Charlotte Lawrence’s “Why Do You Love Me” is exactly what I would hope to conjure up. The song rides the line between radio-friendly hit and emotional frenzy, transposing the bassline of the Turtles’ 60’s pop-sensation “Happy Together” into something otherwise morose and markedly unhappy. This is likely the point, in a day-and-age where millennials (especially those born post-2000 like Lawrence) feel more anxiety than any generation before them, we constantly have to ask: what is there to even feel happy about? What’s the point? What even is love?

And here, in Lawrence’s major label debut she captures all of these discomforting sensibilities quite perfectly. “Why Do You Love Me” is full of angst. A tale of love not quite landing and a relationship doomed from the start. This is a landmark release from the up and coming singer / songwriter.

CHARLOTTE LAWRENCE - WHY DO YOU LOVE ME

So close the windows, turn off the lights, burn a candle or two and let that bad relationship slowly suffocate while playing this song on repeat. Sure, the hook of “Happy Together” will permanently be ingrained in your brain, but you’ll also learn a thing or three about yourself.  May Charlotte Lawrence be the great equalizer in your history of bad loves, teaching you the ways of self-realization along the way. While on one hand Lawrence seems to be beating herself up, admitting that she is crazy, the real lesson here is that we need to learn how to embrace our crazy.  One day another crazy that matches yours will come into the bar or office or classroom and you won’t be asking “Why Do You Love Me?” anymore. You’ll just know. 

From deep within the murky depths of the Los Angeles River emerged a creature: 50% raver, 50% comedian, 10% Robotcop. Kurt Kroeber doesn’t own a dog, operates Soundbleed (the world’s only dance party comedy talk show rave), and is down to party with you. Come up some time and say “Hey dude!” But definitely make sure to casually drop the secret Illuminati password.