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Alexa Leung

Review: "Whiplash" - Tessa Dalton

Tessa Dalton Whiplash Cover Art

It’s never fun to be in a situationship, especially after you’ve been in one for a while. Dancing around one another, never having a solid definition, it can make the best of us antsy enough to want to wipe the slate clean and restart the relationship from scratch. Tessa Dalton’s newest single “Whiplash” muses on what it might mean to hold onto such a relationship, even if it’s struggling and could potentially end. With a chill rock sound, Dalton weaves reflective lyrics with brilliant instrumentation to make her listeners feel as if they’re laying on their bedroom floor, wondering if this situationship is really worth all the hassle and heartache. Better yet, this track is made for those of you who need a good song to do exactly that with, grappling with such an undefinable relationship.





There’s just something about those slower, rock-driven alt-pop songs that I can’t get enough of, and “Whiplash” is definitely one of them. It’s measured with an organic feel in its progression; each layered instrument gives an extra dimension to the track that lends itself to both the soundscape and the song’s overall meaning. I’d be severely underselling this song if I didn’t sing the instrumentals’ praises– everything about it is supremely satisfying, so heartfelt and honest in its feelings. The verses are joined by a double vocal and a double guitar, and the choruses shift toward rock to match the turbulent emotions of the songwriting. I love how the mellowness of the verses gives way to the stronger, more passionate chorus, but nevertheless fizzle back into that quieter soundscape in the end. The instrumentals complement the soundscape in all the best ways, flinging the listeners between genres to give them some good whiplash– just like a situationship. The lyrics are concerned with both driving motifs and new beginnings, which make a lovely combination. The narrator laments their situationship, saying that their relationship is composed of “sharp turns / fast breaks”, which then heralds the rock-laden chorus. And when Dalton sings, “I knew nothing then / Could we start it new?”, the soundscape swells to such a point that can make anyone reminisce on their not-quite relationship, and think that maybe it’s worth sticking it out– or maybe not. “Whiplash” has an elegant balance between both instrumentals and lyrics, and with a gentle to passionate soundscape it manages to make its listeners feel every bit of emotion that the narrator feels.


Tessa Dalton is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and accomplished fiddle player that is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. Growing up in rural Idaho, Dalton took her country work ethic to win old-time fiddle championships in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. She is heavily influenced by country, bluegrass, Celtic, and Americana on the fiddle, and her original works are inspired by artists such as Gracie Abrams, Alix Page, and Lennon Stella, as well as some Foo Fighters, Blink-182, and Coldplay. She debuted in 2023 with her single “My Home’s In Idaho”, which was followed the next year with her second single “One More Night”. “Whiplash” is her most recent release, so make sure to drop her a follow to keep track of her musical journey!



Written By Alexa Leung



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