Acoustic guitar, quirky by riff but familiar by groove, backs up the intimate folk-pop vocals and contemporary lyrics of Tessa Dalton’s new single Hit the Lights. It’s a humble beginning, rising towards a bright pop single, with a catchy thread of melody and a clear sense of personality at it’s core.
Finally a song that’s unapologetically honest in its appreciation of late-night impulses and, in particular, the global wonder of cereal. Hit the Lights is more specifically about the inability to stop dwelling on thoughts of someone whom you know is no good for you. It draws upon the many influences that drown us at the end of a long day – the inability during tiredness, to overcome impulses and cravings despite knowing that they’re bad for us.
“You know it’s not healthy, but there’s nothing that tastes better than a bowl of Lucky Charms at night.”
Coming in a barely past the two-minute mark, Hit the Lights is a pleasant and clever listen, and it highlights a level of awareness and ability that’s clearly in tune with what works in popular music. The track builds up softly but surely, dropping in with modest strings and harmonies, alongside these aptly charming lyrics that feel genuinely original but also piercingly relatable.
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and electric fiddle player Tessa Dalton carves out every single aspect of this original track, and in the process delivers a characterful and quirky ode to the authenticity of late-night confessions and independent music. The musicianship is on point, the voice naturally engaging, and the songwriting is snappy and memorable.
Find Tessa Dalton on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Soundcloud, Amazon, Apple, Tidal & her Website.
