Ashley Kutcher is a Pop singer based in New York, who was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Last Friday, she released a sentimental and emotionally compelling song entitled, “Matchbox”. Carried by somber and passionate acoustic guitars, Ashley offers an immensely vulnerable and authentic account of a relationship between two partners. They vastly contrast each other, yet fulfill the other’s missing pieces. 

“Matchbox” immediately immerses the listener in the story with thoughtful and introspective songwriting. Aside from Ashely’s powerful vocal performance, this aspect of the track is what garnered my attention. From the first few lines, I knew I was in for one. Ashley describes a relationship in which the speaker is reckless, self-destructive, and largely inconsolable, whereas the partner is patient, guarded, protective, and thoughtful. Through the speaker’s eyes, she is imperfect and not a good fit for her partner. In the hook, the speaker begs to not be left. The lyrical content of the song threads the needle between sweet, compassionate love, and the embrace of harmful co-dependence. The depiction of love is nuanced by the speaker’s deprecatingly painted self-portrait. The song is sweet, yet emotionally jarring. 

My favorite aspect of “Matchbox” is the songwriting. Ashley wonderfully utilizes thought-provoking imagery to bring unique and tangible life to her emotions. “You talk a lot, I say a little / If we were space, I'd be the middle / And you'd be the corners holding us together / 'Cause you're the glue and I'm the scissors.” While the sentiment behind each line isn’t necessarily unique (few emotions are) the mere phrasing of them offer a vivid depiction of this relationship. Essentially, her partner holds things together, while her habits invite destructive behavior. “I'm the shaking, you're the calm down / You're the safe call, I'm the night out / I'm the candle that caught on the curtain / A little spark that burned the house down.” I love these last lines of the first verse because they each illustrate different scenes of love. The first being an anxious or anger-driven fit from the speaker being brought back down by their lover. My partner has issues both with anger and anxiety and I found this line to be both relatable and well articulated. The following lines further embody the slippery slope of self-destructive behavior. These last words bleed into the hook, in which the speaker pleads to her partner. Her lack of identity without said partner is a strong sign of co-dependence which I feel is a prominent theme embedded in the song. The most heartbreaking line for me, however, is “And mark my words / Someday I'll b? somebody you deserve.” As someone who feels just as unworthy of the love they receive, the sentiment behind this line, as well as the melody that delivers it, is so emotionally impactful that it brought genuine tears to my eyes on my first listen. 

My favorite lines in the second verse are the opening two, “You're a firefighter, I'm a matchbox / If we were speed, I'd be a hard stop.” Not only is the first line the metaphor that inspired the title, I find it yet another eloquent way to exhibit the fundamental contrast between the two souls that inhabit the frame of this story. The best part about the second line is the actual cut in the music that follows it, as a way to personify the “hard stop.” The beat drops and then swiftly fades back in with a smooth reversed reverb effect of some kind. It’s quite creative and a neat addition to the song. It’s both clever and inspires a smile from me every time I hear it. Following the well-written second verse is an instrumental break that leads into another interesting trait this song has. Though it’s often saved for a final hook, this song’s crescendo is actually a bridge that precedes the outro. Heavy bass, drums, vocal layering, and additional instrumentation offer a devastating yet freeing moment in which the speaker now begs her partner to save themself and leave. It’s a sour gut-punch but makes the structure of this song feel complete and well-crafted. 

“Matchbox” is Ashely Kutcher’s fourth single of 2023. Ever since her debut in 2020, she has shown no signs of slowing down. Each song offers a unfiltered, raw glimpse into her life as she invites listeners to relate to and learn from her own experiences. I’ve had a great time exploring her music and look forward to her future releases! “Matchbox” is available everywhere.

Author: Jordan

Jordan Wisniewski is a passionate writer and Hip-Hop artist from North Carolina, US.