Single Review: Never Leave

Solo-act Saharaa has released her debut single Never Leave. The song was written by Saharaa and produced by Will Henderson (CHAII, Niko Walters and Abby Christo). Saharaa is a Waiheke-based artist.

Never Leave is a pop-edged contemplative track. As a first release it feels understated and encouraging for what is to come, whether this is an EP, rumours of collaborations, or an album. Saharaa’s lyrics, like a confessional Tik Tok, consider those moments of change in relationships. The uncertainty is something we’ve all been through, whether on the verge of a break up or starting something new: there’s a chime of emotional truth in the song. “Maybe I’m scared of losing something so good” Saharaa posts, it’s those thoughts that circle in our minds, the conversations we have with ourselves she captures.

The lyrics are a mix of the things you might say and what is going on inside your head. The track presents her low-key expressive vocals and with a bit of influence from Scandi artist Tove Lo, a proponent of the dark-edged confessional pop scene. There’s an idling feel to the arrangement, a repetitiveness which brings together the emotion of the song and Saharaa’s gentle vocal tone. Never Leave delivers a slice of what I’m going to call restless pop. Something more real, expressive and still pop rich.