The summer is officially amongst us, and New York City-born recording artist Raffaella isn’t going to let anyone or anything — including heartbreak — keep her from enjoying this magical time of year. On her latest single “BUICK” she channels that pain into an irresistible breakup track off the second installment of her EP series LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (Act I) due out on August 12th [via Mom+Pop Records].
With reverberated guitar chords, satisfyingly complex harmonies, and a delicate but dynamic melodic line, “BUICK”, produced by Jake Luppen, curates a perfectly dreamy energy-driven forward by the constant momentum of uptempo percussion. This atmosphere provides the ideal musical context for the lyrical content of the song, where Raffaella acknowledges that her troublesome relationship has come to an end. In detaching herself from the relationship, Raffaella is driving away from emotional tumult without looking in the rearview mirror, and you can’t help but be happy for her. When reflecting on how the song came to be, the songwriter shared, “I was mad at someone I loved and I didn’t want to tell them because I didn’t want to hurt them. Bad move… until I did tell them and they didn’t want to listen,” adding, “avoidance turned to resentment, which was too hard to carry so that led to miscommunication, which ultimately ended in the anger that fuels this song. Full circle.”
The music video, directed by Joey Brodnax and shot by Muriel Margaret & Rhianna Hajduch, coordinates well with the attitude of the track, adding visual layers of emotional nuance. The video is uplifting and aesthetically exciting, with a distinct color palette that is softened by a retro grain. The shots are slightly trippy as Raffaella dances triumphantly on a deserted beach, her height exaggerated in editing to make it appear as if she’s towering over white towels and umbrellas, a visual that portrays the confidence she gained by ending her relationship. Contrastingly, in other shots, she and her band are seen shrunk down to a tiny size, playing from inside a fridge where jugs of milk and boxes of strawberries make for a beautiful white and red color landscape. These fun, joyful vignettes are contrasted by a recurring shot of Raffaella sitting in the dark, face lit only by the light of the refrigerator, singing melancholically into the camera. This more sensitive shot betrays some of the lingering hurt hidden in Rafaella’s lyrics, which add a poignant layer to the upbeat, confident music.
Placed distinctly within its aesthetic, the music video for “BUICK” is dainty and cathartic, invigorating, and visually brilliant, and gives viewers permission to let go of their past heartbreaks as they start their summer.
What are your thoughts on Raffaella’s new video for single, “BUICK”? Let us know below in the comment section. Don’t miss Raffaella on tour. To view the upcoming show dates, click HERE. Want more of Raffaella? Be sure to follow her on your favorite social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
