Ines Rae encapsulates a modern youth’s struggles on ‘Parma Violets’
The London-based singer-songwriter delivers a fun new bedroom pop single.
Photo: Isy Townsend
Ines Rae’s new single Parma Violets is a song that harks back to her typical style, with modulated and dreamy vocals.
Lyrically, Ines perfectly represents the problems teenagers and young adults face with the transition into adulthood and greater responsibility. “Didn’t think it would come this soon / Watching the world from my new bedroom” presents a melancholic reality of disassociation with a tough new reality, distancing yourself from a situation you aren’t ready for.
A fun guitar riff goes with all sections of the song, as well as electronic drums for the choruses and second verse. Pre choruses with richer instrumental texture do an excellent job of moving into the choruses, where drums change to make way for a catchy vocal line. The second chorus is much livelier and more upbeat than the first one, which I personally feel is a fantastic way of bringing the song up and works well with the lyrics to express a story, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. This is improved even further by louder guitar and more electronic accompaniment in the second verse.
Overall, the song is a fun, easy listen, great and packed with catchy riffs both instrumental and vocal. Similarly to her other works, particularly Burner Phone, Ines does a wonderful job of expressing youthful angst with her lyric writing.
With an EP scheduled for 2022, who knows what’s to come for this artist? We’ll wait and see, snacking on Parma Violets in the meantime.