Gia Ransome’s new single is Buttery Layers of Blues and Rock.

Best of CBR Music with Vince Leigh

Four singles and one EP later, Gia Ransome is developing her artistic sensibilities with a rapidity and confidence that is all on show on her latest track, Buttercup.

The new release will keep fans happy as they wait on two new EPs, due out later this year. Coming hot on the heels of Gia’s flurry of 2023 releases—each showcasing her versatility—Buttercup continues this momentum with an enticing alt-rock exploration of lust and regret.

The song opens with Gia’s whispered count-in, setting an intimate tone that aligns with the song’s themes and style. The count-in immediately draws listeners into an intimate soundscape, setting the stage for a trip through emotional turbulence. The dynamics of the dipping rhythms lay a solid foundation, while the riff provides a sharp contrast, highlighting the tension between desire and realisation.

Over a smoky, blues-based pulse intertwined with a recurring jagged rock guitar riff, Gia’s ephemerally seductive vocals and direct lyrics navigate the fine line that lays between obsession and self-awareness. The arrangement fluidly transitions between sections, with verses seamlessly blending into choruses, and choruses dissolving into bridges, all resolving back into the refrain, particularly emphasising the line:

I should have known
you were trouble

Stylistically, Buttercup retains the essence of Gia’s previous single, Morning Light, while introducing a recalibrated style. This new track preserves the crucial elements of Gia’s songwriting and performance but reconfigures them to showcase a more distinctive and idiosyncratic vision of her creativity. The production rightly keeps her incisive lyrics at the forefront, ensuring that her voice remains the focal point.

Beyond Gia’s previous offerings, Buttercup’s intricate layering of blues and rock elements— with a hint of cross-cultural influence in the instrumental riff— underscores her ability to blend genres effectively. Gia’s vocal performance is vulnerably alluring, with her delivery capturing the song’s emotional complexity. Her voice weaves through the lyrics, conveying a subtle sense of entrapment and confession.

The recurring refrain poignantly reminds the listener of the song’s central theme, resonating with anyone who has experienced the duality of love and pain. All of this results in a track that is both familiar and fresh, reflecting Gia’s growth as an artist as well as her commitment to exploring the variegated depths of human emotion through her music.

Listen to Buttercup on Spotify , watch the vid over on YouTube ⬇ and keep up with Gia’s news via linktree