Review: "Don't Take It Personal" - Cheska Moore
- Taylor Sheridan Lempke
- 40 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Cheska Moore’s latest single, “Don’t Take It Personal,” works on slow, subtle tension. On-screen, shows represent the intensity of shaking hands and the struggle to breathe, but Moore’s imagination is equally severe. Echoes of “what ifs” evolve from locking the door five times to bolting it shut forever. A caution sign looms over every aspect of her life, isolating her from family, friends, and living. Trains lead to crashes, ovens lead to fires, and sidewalks lead to danger. She repeats, “It’s gonna happen to someone/ It’s got to happen to someone,” like ruminating thoughts. The vulnerability and poetic structure form a haunting piece of art that reflects OCD.
Rather than vibrating bass and deep kicks, a grand piano suggests the quiet anxiety that tightens around her chest and gradually courses through her veins with every thought. Melodically, “Don’t Take It Personal” plays with the same dramatic melancholy as Lana Del Rey’s Honeymoon. A haunting choir of background vocals grows louder from the chorus to the post-chorus, recreating the overwhelming shadow that escalates as down-spiraling thoughts intensify. The song doesn’t act as a solution, but an immersive experience, a faucet to drain the stream of worries and obsession.
South London artist Cheska Moore builds her music on honesty and vulnerability. She gained a following through the dark, eerie soundscapes and confrontation of deeper issues. For Moore, her music and social media presence provide a platform to spread awareness of mental health and toxic relationships. Moore’s influences include Billie Eilish and Upsahl. Moore collides her experiences with the dark-pop atmosphere, reminding listeners that music can convey harder messages.
Written By Taylor Sheridan Lempke
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