Kim Petras’ latest single ‘Malibu’ proves that summer is well underway in these parts. Petras infuses her composition with touches of eighties-infused bubblegum pop and contemporary dance notes, and what results is a dazzling, sensational track awash in gloss, sunshine, and summer love.

Right off the bat, you will be treated to a pulsating rhythm that never lets up for the first part of the song; Petras’ plays with a high pitch that keeps the energy levels soaring. The melody is set to an infectious percussive arrangement that is at once uproarious and precious, and it’s such a thrilling verse that we’re glad that the chorus takes it easy and just has Petras sing out the title of the song as part of a delightful vocal run. 

A lot of female artists look back to the disco-pop eighties for inspiration nowadays, but few incorporate it so consistently and emphatically like Petras. She wears her femininity like a crown, and ensures that her notes hit the emotional beats as well as they strike the tempo. Midway through the song, the tempo slows down drastically and Petras lays down some soft vocal warmups. However, the upbeat style promptly returns and it taps into a lovesick, party-starved craze that we’re all undergoing collectively. The coming summer might be like no other but that doesn’t mean the music isn’t going to get us pumped anyway. 

Malibu is a representation of not just Kim Petras’ approach to finding love; it’s a tropical paradise that best encapsulates the spirit of summer. But at the same time, it’s set in the heart of Hollywood, which comes with its own sets of riches and glamour. As a result, the tune does a remarkable job of balancing its razzle-dazzle with a sun-soaked sense of excitement for warmer days. Most significantly, it captures the feeling of summer love; a unique experience that artists have played around for years. 

Speaking about her inspiration, Kim Petras said:

Actually, it’s more about somebody you just can’t forget. The song is very much written about my imagination of Malibu before I visited. I’m from Germany, so I just saw it on TV, and it seems like this magical place. Then I got there, and it actually felt quite boring. It was just a bunch of rich people’s houses. It wasn’t as exciting as I thought.” 

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Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.