Single Review: Dear Best Friend

Armed with a ukulele and her singer-songwriter charms, Rebecca Rice is out to celebrate friendship on her debut single Dear Best Friend. The West Auckland artist has been quietly making music for over ten years, but we can only now finally welcome her into the world of official public releases.

The arrangement for Dear Best Friend is simple but extremely effective, honing in on Rebecca’s vocals above all else. It’s an emotional ballad promising to support friends through any trouble that may come their way. Delicate plucked strings, subtle percussion and an array of majestic harmonies flesh out the sound, all crafting a dreamy vibe best listened to amongst fairy lights and candles. In the bridge, subtle keys lead into an utterly cinematic final chorus. This is the song’s undeniable highlight, where Rebecca escalates into a sincere belt devoted to love. The one downside is that at times, it’s difficult to make out the words, reducing the impact of what are likely highly meaningful closing lines.

Dear Best Friend is a promising release from this upcoming artist. Fans of intimate artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift should find Rebecca Rice on their list of new performers to watch.