Summer Bennett: Carsick
I like a song that makes me curious and Summer Bennett’s debut single does that — right from the title.
I mean, with a name like ‘Carsick’ it’s hard not to wonder.
It turns out the title is a metaphor for the feeling of being stuck in a situation that make you uncomfortable or out of control, and Bennett wrote the song in response to pressure to fit in somewhere she didn’t belong. Writing music, she says, helped her through that tough time.
And it’s helping the rest of us too — tough time or not. It’s a fantastic track and I’m not the only one to think so. The song won the 2022 Arts & Letters Award in the Junior Music category and Bennett won the 2021 Newfound Talent contest.
The accolades are deserved. ‘Carsick’ is an impressive debut — full of emotion, urgency and drive. Bennett (and producer Krisjan Leslie) seem to have a firm control on the throttle because when they wants you to feel the energy you’re going to, and when it’s time to lean in and listen, well, that’s going to happen too. The contrast is beautiful.
Can’t wait to see where Bennett goes from here. I’m a fan.
Check out ‘Carsick’ — it’s on streaming platforms today.
