Well, well, well, it’s that special time of year where the sun shines bright, the clouds move aside and out of the horizon comes Amie Jay with another banger to cuddle our ears again. “HEATHENS, I HAVE RETURNED!” she shouts upon the masses. Last year saw the Cambridge-born artist dip her toes into the pool of extended releases, with debut EP Cancer Sun containing some of Amie’s best work yet. It invited us into a world of reflection and emotion stemming from past experiences, relationships, and all that (not so) good stuff. While the vibes were good, the lyrics came full of depth and layers that made you wish to return to them again and again.
Now she returns with ‘Miss Being in Love’. A tune that follows a similar formula but takes us on a night time drive to experience a little more reflection. Like a more chilled out cousin of ‘Sweet Nostalgia’, its intro eases the listener into its groove – laying down a smooth set of rhythms that slowly envelops the mind and hips. It is catchy without being too overt about it. Like it knows but doesn’t want you to know it knows. Its subtle sound allows Amie to deliver almost spoken-word vocals that ponder over events that have led to this moment. She sounds emotive but composed, as if she’s accepted what’s happened and is willing to talk openly about approaching love and relationships with caution the next time around.
It is a seriously catchy start, and the soft introduction of harmonies and chords leads to a chorus that’s full of bold statements and even bolder instrumentation. Booming bass notes reverberate around claims of “miss being in love” and being the lead character in life. They leave an impact even as the song expands in size and grandeur.
‘Miss Being in Love’ is a fantastic listen that explores the traits of last year’s Cancer Sun and puts a fresh perspective on top. Its mood projects being afraid and cautious, but musically sounds composed and ready to celebrate all the nice things that come from being an “us” again. I could keep listening to it over and over.