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Willow Gray

Review: "Poison Ivy" - Chaz Cardigan




“Poison Ivy” is an indie anthem that relays an experience of an intoxicating relationship with little substance beyond its thrills. Every date brings new thrills fueled by substances and minimal conversations. You crave proximity and a deeper relationship, but the other person just calls you for more intoxicating adventures and pleasures. You remember the dates and what was so engaging about them but you wonder what more there is to them. The other person almost needed substances to function during every outing together. The toxicity grates at you until it burns and grows into something you know you should keep away from, but it pulls you back in. But with every explosive meeting, you are drawn in and crave more even if you only know them based on the thrills you provide each other.





“Poison Ivy” is a dance pop indie pop anthem with an upbeat tone and instrumentation that uniquely contrasts with the melancholy and serious lyrics. Despite its contrasting tones, both the melody and the relationship described in the lyrics are intoxicating. Throughout the piece, a familiar and nostalgic dance melody and instrumentation give a nice invigorating structure for the lyrics and vocals to base itself around. The consistent modulation on the vocals makes this new single sound excitingly nostalgic of early 2010s dance pop and indie singles. One of the standout aspects of this single is the brief part of the bridge that abruptly slows everything down. In a way, these tonal contrasts and shifts are reminiscent of the toxic relationship being described here. It is upbeat and thrilling, but it is still, in essence, somber and ever-changing.



Chaz Cardigan is a singer-songwriter from Elizabethtown, Kentucky and currently based in Los Angeles, California. His musical aspirations were heavily inspired by musicians such as Justin Timberlake, NSYNC, and Backstreet Boys. He began writing and producing his own music in his childhood and early teenage years and posting them to early sites such as Myspace. In 2020, his single “Not OK!” received a top 15 alternative radio hit spot and rocketed his presence in the music industry. As part of the LGBTQ+ community, he uses his identity as an encouraging factor in his life and the lyrics for many of his songs. He has amassed an impressive social media following that has increasingly elevated his career. Make sure to follow him on social media and give “Poison Ivy” a listen!


Written By Willow Gray



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