Single Review: Favorite Secret by Eraste
Growing up as part of the LGBTQ+ community in a small town, pop artist Eraste had a different introduction to love. On the subject of self-exploration and journeying into the world of relationships, she says, “When you’re constantly overthinking what you’re allowed to do and who you’re allowed to love, it can make you second guess who you really are.” Drawing from the isolation and uncertainty of her youth, Eraste’s music is a cathartic escape into the world of pop.
Eraste
Photo by: Gaby Deimeke
Her newest single “favorite secret”, out this August, ties together the euphoric highs of young relationships with the intensity and toxicity of an affair that has to be hidden. Hot off the heels of the release of her “crashing every party” EP this past March, Eraste is bringing an interesting mix of therapeutic lyricism and synth-pop beats to the table.
“favorite secret” opens as a boppy club-type beat - I could easily imagine hearing this blaring over the speakers at 1am while a group of girls covered in glitter dance their way to the bar. When you dig a little deeper into the lyrics, however, there’s self-awareness and tension underneath the radio-ready exterior. Eraste says of the song, “Falling in love requires honesty and trust, so what is it then if it’s surrounded by the lies we told to keep it? Does my love still exist if it’s only a secret?”
Eraste’s mature musings on who she is and what she feels about love to the upbeat, autotuned soundtrack is an interesting juxtaposition. Lyrics like “my darlin’, quit callin’, I thought we put this to rest, try to save yourself” imply maturity and self-awareness that most young adult relationships lack. That being said, “forbidden love” as Eraste describes it is a concept that almost anyone can relate to. We’ve all been there, Eraste just takes it and wraps it up in a hypnotic beat you could lose yourself in.
Stream “favorite secret” anywhere you listen to music. For more on Eraste, check out her website here or find her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Review by: Jacq Kozak
