Singer-songwriter brielle brings a playful pop sensibility to a strained relationship on “Tug o War.” Written largely in one sitting on her bedroom floor, the track pairs bright melodies with the emotional exhaustion of wanting someone who keeps making life complicated.
ADVERTISEMENT
EXCLUSIVE
ACCESS
Indie Boulevard Magazine
Discover the Indie Artists Shaping the World!
Unleash the Indie
Latest Issue
for just €2.99!
The sweetness is what makes the premise work. Affection and irritation coexist here, and the music gives that attachment a convincing appeal. You understand why somebody would keep coming back, even as the situation grows tiring. That’s a sharper angle than a straightforward breakup anthem.
At two minutes and thirty-two seconds, the song keeps its argument concise. Its cheerful melodic character gives the subject an interesting tension, allowing the frustration to register beneath an inviting surface. brielle’s approach suits the messy middle of a relationship, when attraction still has a powerful say in every decision. “Tug o War” earns its title through that persistent emotional push and pull between partners.
