Review: "Jesus Christ & Country Clubs" - Gatlin

All soft, dark, light, and heavy, artist Gatlin’s single ‘Jesus Christ & Country Clubs’ takes the worst out of a bad situation and creates something beautiful out of confusing, complex emotions. ‘Jesus Christ & Country Clubs’ highlights the experience of caring for someone who prefers more superficial qualities and focused on fitting in certain environments rather than making genuine connections. The track dives into themes of class, heartbreak, self-worth, etc., all via describing a lost connection with someone who valued certain looks, environments, and amenities above all else. It’s clear to listeners that Gatlin has left this connection behind but that it additionally left scars and memories that impact Gatlin beyond the breakup. ‘Jesus Christ & Country Clubs’ will not only easily resonate with listeners, as these themes and predicaments are unfortunately common, but it will give them time to truly reflect and connect with themselves. This moody, yet changing in pace, song fully puts Gatlin’s heart on display, not shying away from the confusing feelings of a breakup while also allowing room for the feelings she has about her own self. From beginning to end, Gatlin doesn’t shy away from how she feels – both toward herself and her ex-partner, transparently showing a realistic perspective and offering listeners a place to reflect and begin the process of listening to oneself.

While pain, confusion, and clarity are heard throughout ‘Jesus Christ & Country Clubs’ in Gatlin’s voice, they are additionally displayed through her lyrics. Lines such as, “Pockets bigger than your guns,” and “You say you want the southern stereotype”, paint a clear picture of the type of person she was once with. It’s evident that Gatlin was unappreciated for who she is and her ex-partner’s idea of what is ‘most desirable’ was worth more to them than the authentic person standing before them. The line “I’m split in two” especially stood out to me, as it appeared to highlight the experience of trying to decide between wanting to stick to who you are or follow certain societal expectations / fit in with a certain type of crowd. Gatlin overall has chosen her own path and does not want to follow the shallow, surface-level type of life her ex-partner wants to have, but this experience has created confusion for her when it comes to truly knowing where she’s going next and where she will fit in. As the track plays off of this confusion and uses it to its advantage through sound, creating a moody ambience, Gatlin sings as if this all happened just yesterday. The emotions in this track are raw, personal, and widely identifiable – both in its writing and sound, creating an authentic listening experience for listeners that will keep them wanting more & more.

Gatlin is an indie artist based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her music can be described as a mixture of instinctual humanity with daring vulnerability to create musical moments filled with meaning & melody. Gatlin is a multifaceted person and artist, enjoying things like riding motorbikes and wearing leather as well as spreading love to others. Additionally, she is not afraid to be herself and stand her ground. Her music is evident of that, combining confessional lyricism with emotional storytelling. With roots in folk and a wide imagination, her style can be compared with artists such as Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers. Receiving a feature on TIDAL as the face of “Rising:Folk” with her first releases and a place on Spotify’s “Fresh Folk” playlist, Gatlin continues to focus on releasing more beautiful & honest music.

Written By Madison Spies

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