Thursday June 13, 2024
Rachael Coltrona’s new single, Notting Hill, is a small revelation, a song that sees the world through the lens of personal loss and comes out the other side with something likepop grace.
It’s an exploration that began with a serendipitous moment in London, one of those fleeting instants that transforms into something far more substantial when put to music. The backdrop: Coltrona, stood up on a blind date, wandering into the famous bookstore from the film Notting Hill. It’s a scene as cinematic as it is real, a moment of personal despair turned into unexpected inspiration. She takes this slice of life and turns it into a narrative that feels both intimate and expansive.
The track opens with evocative key sounds and rich vocal textures, creating an atmosphere that pulls you in immediately. The transition to the verse is seamless, the melody pop-friendly yet layered with emotional depth. An electric piano introduces recurring motifs, setting a melancholic yet luminous tone. The synth hook weaves through the arrangement like a haunting whisper, adding a layer of mystery and longing. Coltrona’s pre-chorus builds with subtlety, her voice carrying the weight of the song’s narrative.
When the chorus hits, it’s her voice and the ascending melodic shifts that shine. The chorus is followed by a distinctive keyboard riff, and throughout, a synth arpeggio plays a rhythmic role that grounds the track. The second verse and pre-chorus return, their hooks becoming more infectious with each listen. Then comes the bridge, a near-spoken refrain that adds a unique texture to the song, a moment of quiet reflection before the final chorus, which concludes in a way that’s surprising yet feels utterly right.
The lyrics, penned during a moment of introspection, capture the essence of finding hope and resilience in unexpected places. ‘I’ve always loved Notting Hill and discovering that bookstore during a difficult moment was like a scene from the movie come to life,’ Coltrona shares. ‘It reminded me that sometimes, being stood up or facing a setback can lead to beautiful and unexpected opportunities, so much so I went back to London and made my video right in the same bookstore as the movie.’ Notting Hill is it’s a testament to Coltrona’s ability to transform personal experiences into something universal.
