Pain, betrayal, and disappointment. We've all felt them, but Hamilton-based singer-songwriter Isabella Chiarini highlights these emotions with striking lyricism in her latest single, "Love Me Not."
This isn't the first we've heard of Chiarini; it certainly won't be the last. Each time she graces our speakers, we're captivated by her conscious lyricism, unwavering authenticity, and profound exploration of subgenres beneath pop. If there's one thing she hopes, it's that her music inspires listeners "to love and believe in themselves," and this holds with her emotional new single, "Love Me Not."
The song opens with lush acoustic guitars and faint background pads, painting the emotional and gloomy soundscape. As Chiarini's haunting vocals meet our speakers, she expresses the time wasted, lies told, and petals picked off the flower that was once a relationship. Her description of two lovers falling fast, making promises they cannot keep, and watching hearts shatter is nothing but chilling to the bone.
Her vocals on the hook soar overtop while the melancholy, soothing acoustic guitar strums on, reminiscent of an early 2000s Avril Lavigne in "I'm With You." The vocal layering is pristine, making it seem like Chiarini is serenading us in the same room. As the instrumentation gradually expands with added strings for depth and piano for soul, Chiarini pulls herself to the outro with the cruel realization that she was never loved in the way she was promised.
Isabella Chiarini has such a way with words, and her lyricism in "Love Me Not" is a prime example. Do yourself a favor and feast your ears on the stunning new single, now available on all digital streaming platforms.
Welcome back to Buzz, Isabella! We deeply admire the emotion you poured into your new single, "Love Me Not." What inspired this theme and narrative? What experiences might have influenced it?
This narrative came from some personal experiences. Some people had told me everything I wanted to hear, but I felt they didn't show me what they told me. I always find that more difficult because you want to believe them, but you know the truth when it comes down to it.
We couldn't help but hear a little early 2000s Avril Lavigne in "Love Me Not." Did you have any musical influences when building and shaping the track?
When I create new songs, I always go into them with an open mind; I didn't have too much direction for the song other than the general idea. I walked into the session with the concept of picking pedals off a flower each time, saying, "he loves me, he loves me not." That is where the title came from, and everything morphed from there.
What was your recording process like for "Love Me Not," considering your lyrics are incredibly emotional and powerful? Was it a cathartic experience?
I recorded this song with a producer who I love, so I felt super comfortable. Being comfortable helped me feel okay and show lots of emotion. There were a few times when I was choking back tears, but that makes for a vulnerable and authentic track.
The lyricism in "Love Me Not" is incredibly personal and compelling. What was your songwriting process like, especially for an emotional song?
I wrote this song with Brian Melo, winner of Canadian Idol. I have known Brian for over ten years, so sharing my experiences with him felt easy. We also had help from Paul Stephens, who is based in Nashville, who is also great! I felt perfect after the songwriting session because I felt like I could finally let all the feelings I had inside out and not hold everything in anymore. Writing things down helps me release any emotion building up inside.
You've mentioned your hope of inspiring listeners to love and believe in themselves through your music. How do you think "Love Me Not" affects that message?
This song is empowering because the concept is that if you cannot give me everything you said you would, it's time for this to end. It can be very vulnerable and challenging to tell someone how you're genuinely feeling and lay the cards on the table, which I do in this song. It is a message for everyone in a challenging situation. If you've voiced your concerns and nothing changes, it is okay to walk away; if it is meant to be, it will always return.