Review: "Soho House Valet" - Gatlin

Dive into a kaleidoscope of emotion and a tale of misfortune with ‘Soho House Valet’ from artist Galen. Off her upcoming album, The Eldest Daughter, ‘Soho House Valet’ utilizes Galins incredible songwriting abilities to draw you into a story that feels both all-too-real, as well as a detailed look into heartbreak as a whole. The track entails how it feels to be hurt by the one you love, in addition to feeling the pressure & difficulty of pursuing your career and figuring your path out, especially when you’re also put under a spotlight. Moody, dark, and emotional, ‘Soho House Valet’ feels as though you’re stepping into the pages of a personal diary. Gatlin does not shy away from laying her emotions completely out on the table in this song, using her detailed songwriting abilities to paint mental pictures of certain scenery. A repeated line throughout the song, “Heavy, I don’t mean to put that on you,” perfectly displays how a lot of people feel about the way they process their emotions with others, often wondering if it is “bothersome”, and how people are often made to feel poorly about their choice to open up to others about their struggles - as if it is their “fault”. Gatlin describes this experience with poise and consideration, inscribing how she both thinks opening up about her sadness would could “freak” her partner out and that she additionally doesn’t mean to “put that” on them, showcasing a struggle with emotion and openness that is commonly shared.

‘Soho House Valet’ gives listeners a look into Gatlin’s mind, showing her talent of truthful storytelling while additionally being completely honest with listeners. Her struggles in this track, such as her body “shutting down” and not being able to get off the couch, are raw and make sense in connection with the track and how she is being treated by the men in her life. Both a partner and Gatlin’s father are mentioned in ‘Soho House Valet’, with both men instilling a fear within her that is felt in every line of the song. While her father uses crude language / name calling to attempt to bring her down, she fights to essentially not bother her partner - showcasing fear in a different, clever way. In addition to the incredibly detailed songwriting in this song that makes you connect with Gatlin off-the-bat, the overall sound behind ‘Soho House Valet’ is perfectly fitting and timed well with the fall season. Each time I listen to this song, I picture myself under a billowing tree on a dark street in LA - just as Gatlin experiences while in front of the Soho House valet. With the level of storytelling and power of moody sound that Gatlin is bringing with ‘Soho House Valet’, her upcoming album will undoubtedly be one to throw yourself into. 

Gatlin is a Nashville-based indie artist. Her music combines instinctual humanity with daring vulnerability, creating music with both meaning and melody. With a wide range, Gatlin remains consistent with creating music that is brimming with emotional storytelling and confessional lyricism. Her sound emerging from two differing sides that work in conjunction when put together, she utilizes her folk roots and young imagination in a way that can be compared to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers. Blending a vast internal world with a rich, external world of people and places, listeners will experience a complete view into who Gatlin is. Gatlin’s first releases quickly garnered attention, earning her a feature on TIDAL as the face behind “Rising:Folk” in addition to a spot within the “Fresh Folk” playlist on Spotify. With more music coming soon from her upcoming album, listeners are promised more honest, detailed, and emotionally-intriguing music from Gatlin’s creative world. 

Written By Madison Spies

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