Review: "what's not mine" - Savanna Leigh x Bertie Newman

Tessa Maddaloni
7 minutes ago
2 min read

Savanna Leigh Bertie Newman "what's not mine" Cover Art

Love is warm, all encompassing, and supportive, and yet is also the scariest thing in the world. To let yourself truly be known is terrifying, to let someone in and see every side of you opens the door for rejection and heartbreak. Savanna Leigh and Bertie Newman’s latest single “what’s not mine” details this very dilemma. The two sing about going back and forth with yourself, not knowing how to handle the debacle. “It unpacks the ways we protect love by staying surface-level,” they say. “[And] it's about learning that love can't be unconditional if we're not willing to be unconditional with ourselves.” With both of their voices taking verses and blending together on the chorus, they appear to be in this seesaw of logic, falling in and out of confidence.

The track opens with the simplistic strumming of guitar chords, and Newman’s soft and calming voice taking the first verse. He sings about how he only lets his lover see the sides of himself that he can approve of, and that maybe she would truly love him if he lets her all the way in. However, as Leigh joins him and they move into the chorus, it is clear that neither party lets the other truly see them, and it most likely will not happen any time soon. In the chorus, they sing, “I love you more than anyone since you, anyone before / But I stood and said nothing at all / Why'd I stand and say nothing at all?” They regret that they cannot truly open up, and yet have no idea how to stop this. Leigh takes the next verse, in which she voices the same insecurities. She sings “I likе to be there but not just in thе physical sense /We're all of the way in 'til we've both got a stake in it”.

This collaboration came to be when London based artist Bertie Newman had written the bare bones of the track, but knew he needed another voice to blend with his throughout the lyrics. He had been a fan of Savanna Leigh’s, and once they connected they realized she already had a London trip planned. They finished writing and recording the song together, and created a beautiful work of art. Leigh, based in Nashville, is a 25 year old indie singer-songwriter known for putting the tough feelings into words. She grew up wanting to create something beneficial from her complex emotions, and since then has grown as an artist and creative, with new music on the horizon. Newman is born and raised in Hackney, London, and his small town upbringing is reflected in his tender and emotional music. He has over 200k monthly Spotify listeners and a slew of singles and EPs since 2021. Make sure to follow the social medias below to stay tuned for more raw and emotional music from Newman and Leigh.