The sound of summer is often a mixture of euphoria and bittersweet nostalgia – and Avery Cochrane’s ‘Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night’, released on August 8th, transports exactly that feeling. A shimmery alt-pop gem that’s destined for late night open-window car ride singalongs: Shimmering synths and upbeat percussion make for the perfect mixture of dance-floor energy with a bit of reflective fragility sprinkled on top. The lyrics paint a picture of someone feeling unseen yet demanding to be noticed.
Whilst the beat and backing track are the definition of catchy, the lyrics are way more emotional and vulnerable than the instrumental part leads on. The Seattle-based artist sings about the struggles of shapeshifting one’s identity under social pressure and other people’s expectations: ‘Will she waste into the kind of woman everyone likes?’ and ‘Needs your confirmation, she’s changed a lot since then’. These lines deal with the struggle a lot of young people are facing: Trying to figure out who you are, whilst still giving in to the likes of others.
The duality of an instrumental pop glitter bomb and soft whispered indie confessions like ‘She drinks Gin Martinis, wears pink thong bikinis, she’s soft like sand beaches, she’s all you wanted. Short tempered and short skirts, she lives in the suburbs, drives a white Beamer, she’s all I wanted’ sets the perfect scene for a coming-of-age scene in your favourite summer movie: That moment when the protagonist finally steps into light, finding themselves and discovering that they’re fine just like they are.
‘Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night’ wanders off from Cochrane’s previous releases. Whilst her other tracks like ‘Existential Crisis at the Tennis Club’ (a queer anthem) or ‘Corporate Ladder’ are placed in the indie genre, giving off Lana Del Rey vibes, ‘Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night’ gravitates towards pure pop, drawing inspiration from modern pop culture icons such as Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. Yet the vulnerability and honesty within the lyrics, that make Avery Cochrane stand out, are still being maintained in this new sound of hers. And people seem to love it: The song is doing numbers on TikTok, having garnered over a million views already, making it her biggest break-out to date.
At its core, ‘Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night’ isn’t just a song, it’s a shift towards a new direction for Avery Cochrane, it’s a main character moment and a statement. It’s a confession written in neon light and catchy beats.
Written by: Svenja Nowak
Edited by: Suzanne Teernstra
