Atlanta-born, Italy-based singer-songwriter Mattiel Brown bids farewell to the superficial world of the LA music industry on her latest single ‘Heartbreak Heatwave’. Inspired by her disillusionment with the city’s endless networking, exclusive parties and obsession with status, the track reflects her decision to leave it all behind and start a new life in Italy. As Mattiel puts it rather brilliantly, “Hollywood can kiss my ass.”
Despite its cynical subject matter, ‘Heartbreak Heatwave’ is a wonderfully sun-drenched affair, blending retro garage rock with touches of psychedelic pop. Loose, rhythmic keys and percussion set things in motion before Mattiel’s distinctive, effortlessly cool vocals enter the picture. Electric lead guitar and acoustic rhythm guitar gradually join the arrangement, creating a laid-back groove with a distinctly 60s and 70s feel. There’s something wonderfully carefree about the whole thing, perfectly capturing the sense of liberation that comes with walking away from something that no longer serves you.
The accompanying video keeps things refreshingly simple, featuring slow-motion shots of Mattiel dancing and playing guitar in an LA car park, dressed in a striking teal trouser suit. It’s a fittingly playful visual for a song that finds its freedom in refusing to play by somebody else’s rules.
