Gabrielle Aplin navigates trust and infatuation in her new single ‘When The Lights Go Out.’ The English singer-songwriter is only twenty-eight and has already carved her a niche for herself. She thrives in low-key, subdued musical spaces, where she can freely express her vulnerabilities through melancholic sounds and stripped-back vocals.

Her voice is as silky as velvet, and she spins to great success in her latest electronic/house thrill. Sonically, the latest composition isn’t too much of a departure from the artist’s previous features — Aplin manages to retain her wide-eyed personality and her syrupy-sweet affectations that show themselves in every drawl and pause. 

She has a tendency to hold and drag through certain notes, her slurry diction conveying the depth of infatuation in which she finds herself. It suits the theme of the tune all too well, and her charming innocence helps build a fanciful mood throughout the song. In terms of the instrumentation, there isn’t anything significant in the verses outside of the two basic chords on the synth that steadily accentuate and carry Aplin’s vocals. You’d expect the chorus to be bursting with bass, percussion, and over-the-top production, as is the case with most modern electronic/house tracks. Yet ‘When The Lights Go Out’ doesn’t bother with a stunning chorus; it keeps up with its passive beat. The only element that is added is an enhanced upbeat that resembles a clap more than a set of drums — this creates a communal, concert-esque atmosphere rather than that of a dancefloor. 

By the bridge, there are some added effects and rhythms infused into the melody, but nothing that takes your attention away from the central act: Aplin’s display of emotions through her versatile and sweet voice. After releasing her third studio album Dear Happy in 2020, the artist released this song at the turn of the year in partnership with Never Fade Records. 

Lyrically, the song is about revealing your inner self to someone special, a privilege they’ve earned through their devotion and persistence. But it also means that this inner self comes with its flaws and fault lines. But what’s special about Gabrielle’s love is that the views get to relish the same sense of wonder and curiosity as the artist herself.

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.