HOLLY’s “Something Sexy” comes in like a piece of velvet slipped through a door as inscrutable, self-assured, and impossible to disregard. Running just under three minutes, “Something Sexy” is a vibe. On “Sundays,” HOLLY creates a sonic love letter that leads with the listener without ever going all the way. It’s coy, but it’s never cold; bold, but never brash. The lyrics press against the thrill of the unsaid moment, the midnight connection, those quiet touches and glances that say more than words, away from the light.
The verses skulk with a smoky, underplayed sensuality and then explode in a chorus that shimmies with quietly self-assured self-confidence that tastes almost as good as the salty, briny lyrics. It’s the song you feel on your skin. There’s a lived-in wisdom to her tone, suggesting years spent writing in the shadows before such declarations find their way to the spotlight. It’s that behind-the-scenes touch that lends “Something Sexy” its sheen and bite, feeling somewhere between the slinky delves into debauchery of BANKS and the melodic grip of Zara Larsson or The Weeknd.
But don’t get it twisted, HOLLY is copying no one. “Something Sexy” suggests she’s here to write her own rules and love notes, too. This is pop at its most unapologetic, dripping with elegance and desire, but knowing when to pull back and leave you wanting more. Play it once and you’ll be intrigued. Play it twice, and you’ll be a convert. On “Something Sexy,” HOLLY doesn’t simply sing about the rush of being desired, she embodies it, heartbeat by heartbeat, breath by breath.
Connect with HOLLY: Instagram
