Review: "Deer In Headlights" - ILIRA
- Tessa Maddaloni
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
In her latest single, ILIRA perfectly describes the feeling of realizing you are in a toxic relationship, and yet being unable to force yourself to leave. A common dilemma in a situation like that, she uses her voice to discuss the feeling of isolation and hurt, even though she cannot lift her legs to walk away. She says that the feeling is “like a deer standing motionless in the headlights, [and] the song describes the paralyzing moment of shock where you are unable to escape reality.” ILIRA’s soundscape is melancholic and slow, with her voice dripping with emotion as she recounts how stuck she feels. Throughout the chorus, this track is layered with Lana Del Rey-esque harmonies as well as pulsing rhythms that feel like the wind swirling around her as she is glued to her spot.
The first lyric of this track sets the stage excellently for the rest of the song. With simple piano chords, ILIRA sings, “It must be love 'cause it hurts / Is it a game of who breaks first? / I keep chasin’ and chasin' the version of you / The summer you made me feel safe”. As is common in a toxic relationship, it wasn’t always like this. They used to be truly in love, and yet now are each daring each other to leave before they do. In the chorus, we reach the title when ILIRA sings, “I’m like a deer in your headlight / I wanna run, but my limbs don't move”. With her haunting harmonies, you can almost see the deer staring down the car, waiting for the impending impact being unable to save itself.
Having grown up feeling that she could never truly fit in, ILIRA carved her own path and created her own place. Raised in Switzerland with Albanian parents, she often felt “too much for some rooms, not enough for others”, and allowed music to become her outlet and community. Finally, she had a place where she could create her own boundaries, and share any feeling that she wanted for those who would listen. She even made the choice to walk away from the world of major labels, finding that she needed full control over her sound and content. She says that her music is “rooted in alternative rock but laced with softness, like the middle ground between Foo Fighters and Lana Del Rey”. Make sure to follow the social media below to stay tuned for more from ILIRA.
Written By Tessa Maddaloni
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