Rosie Darling has struck again with another heartfelt rack centered around vulnerable lyrics and real life experiences. “Smoke & Mirrors”, released on March 14th, details the feeling of working so hard to be loved and appreciated, and the one person you want this from purposely tries not to see it. The honesty and acceptance behind Darling’s lyrics show the sad truth that this is a common event, and that the lack of attention only makes her try even harder to win approval. When asked about the song, Darling explained her own experiences with this feeling, and that “‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is the song for me that helped me process this experience in my own way and showed me that seeking someone’s approval is only ever going to keep you feeling small”.
The soundscape of this track is simplistic and highlights Darling’s clear tonality and emotional voice, with drum beats accentuating the flowing melodies. Throughout the choruses and verses, Darling references different circus and show elements, like a packed audience watching her downfall and the feeling of being a puppet on a string in a play. In the chorus, she sings, “It's a standin' ovation and you're in your seat”. The rise and fall of the beats throughout this song mimic the sound of Darling swaying back and forth on the tightrope she feels like she is walking on and references in the second verse. This track follows a basic verse-chorus setup, with the chorus being sung again to close out the song. Darling ends this track with the lines, “All that you see / Is the smoke and the mirrors in me”.
29 year old Rosie Darling is a Boston born singer songwriter now based in Los Angeles. With over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a slew of EPs, singles, and one album (released in 2023 and titled Lanterns), Darling has been creating professional music since the release of her first single in 2017. Drawing inspiration from her own personal artists, such as classics like Taylor Swift, Lizzie McAlpine, and Gracie Abrams, Darling’s music is vulnerable and heartfelt, reflecting on her own life experiences, especially the ones that have hurt her. Make sure to follow the social medias below to stay tuned for more emotional music from Rosie Darling.
Written By Tessa Maddaloni
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