May 12 | Written By Jessica Pispisa

Kara Rhodes’ second single “Take Me Back” makes true of what her music has been described as: “intimate and relatable”. The song describes a relationship that lasted during a summer, and while there was hope it could, promises of marriage and devotion were made to be ultimately broken. The sunny, acoustic guitar strings and beats go together quite well, and matches the lyrics and feel of a hot summer. It can be easily added to your upcoming summer playlist, and be a company to someone’s own romance, during the hot weather or otherwise.

The singer clearly dips into her memories often and wishes to go back to that summer as the opening lyrics make clear: “I remember when we spoke of a perfect life/ it was always on my mind/ But here I am without you now/ losing all track of time.”. She has accepted that he’s moved on, and there is no bitterness or spite to find in this track whatsoever. There’s a level of quaint maturity that follows the song “I heard that you have found someone new/how I hope she thinks the world of you.” and even a fondness that she is willing to “raise a glass” if she sees him “out on a crowd”. We all want to go back to a summer or a moment in time when we first fell in love, and every emotion is heightened by the balmy weather and days that last longer than nights. Nothing beats that intense emotion like “those long ass nights”, and this song gives the listener a feel that is more celebratory that melancholic. Rhodes accepts the fate that her paramour has moved on, and the song’s melody is at times more wistful than the lyrics, with the added echo on the “long goodbye” line that suggests that she’s letting go with the intent of keeping the memories untainted by the pain of the unfulfilled promises of what could have been had the summer never ended, or had they not parted ways.

She’ll always long to go back but is under no illusion that it was all for nothing. Rhodes could have easily gone the other route –revenge songs are crowd pleasers almost by default- but choosing to be wish someone you loved well takes heart. If she chooses to keep approaching all her music like this in the future, she can do no wrong.

Check out ‘Take Me Back’ here.

Follow Karra Rhodes here.

Follow The Music Mag here.

Discover more incredible music with our playlists here.