Michelle O Faith’s new single, Motorcycle, Suzuki, is more than just a return – it’s a reinvention. After two years of creative hibernation, the South London-born vocalist, songwriter, and producer has emerged with a track that feels like a high-octane, neon-lit ride through the tunnels of Tokyo – both literally and metaphorically. The song, designed as the perfect buzz single for her upcoming EP, defies traditional structure yet is bursting with hooks, embodying Michelle’s fearless approach to sound and storytelling.
One of Motorcycle, Suzuki’s most striking features is its expansive genre fusion. The track blends heavy metal guitars with 808s, hip-hop kicks, and cinematic strings, creating a soundscape that is both grand and chaotic, intimate yet larger than life. This complexity mirrors Michelle’s own artistic identity – she is a classically trained vocalist with operatic energy, yet her music sits at the intersection of multiple genres. The way she weaves her voice into this tapestry, seamlessly moving between ethereal melodies and commanding presence, makes for an electrifying experience.
Her operatic training shines through, not just in vocal technique but in the sheer drama of her delivery. There’s a theatricality to how she rides the beat, letting her voice cut through the production like a high-speed motorcycle slicing through a midnight highway. The instrumentation is equally cinematic – the strings add grandeur, the 808s add weight, and the metal guitars inject raw, unfiltered energy. It’s a collision of worlds, yet Michelle makes them coexist effortlessly.
Lyrically, Motorcycle, Suzuki is a study in self-assurance, identity, and movement—both literal and figurative. The opening lines set the scene: “Summer time and we’re back outside Black girl wearing yellow, she’s angelic with a devil side, she a little bit ghetto…”
There’s a duality at play here: light and dark, elegance and edge. The image is both striking and symbolic – a burst of vibrancy, confidence, and joy. But the self-awareness in “angelic with a devilish side” suggests depth beyond the aesthetic; this is a persona that refuses to be one-dimensional.
The lyric, “Watch me ride under a neon sky…” evokes a futuristic, cyberpunk-like imagery, speeding through an urban dreamscape. The repetition of “I’m gang until I die…” is almost incantatory, reinforcing an unwavering commitment to self and community. The motorcycle becomes more than just a vehicle – it’s a metaphor for agency, power, and movement.
The most defiant moment comes with the lines, “Put me on the back of your Motorcycle, Suzuki, catch me in the rearview mirror, ain’t a bitch who look like me… I know you like it when I ride reckless in these city streets, catch me in the rearview mirror, ain’t a bitch who look like me…” This is not just about individuality – it’s about being unforgettable. Michelle isn’t just present; she’s imprinting herself into the fabric of the moment. The rearview mirror imagery suggests that while others may try to catch up, she’s already ahead, forging her own path at full speed.
What makes Motorcycle, Suzuki the perfect reintroduction for Michelle O Faith is its structural unpredictability. Unlike conventional pop songs with clear verses, pre-choruses, and hooks, this track unfolds like a sonic fever dream. It’s as if Michelle is inviting us on a ride with no clear destination, trusting that the experience itself is the point.
Her use of TikTok to pre-promote the single speaks to her awareness of how music is consumed today. The fragmented, hook-driven nature of the track makes it ideal for viral moments – whether it’s the hypnotic teaser, the assertive refrains, or the cinematic world-building of the production. This isn’t just a song; it’s an experience, meant to be looped, dissected, and felt.
Michelle O Faith has never been one to conform, and has always operated outside the expected. Motorcycle, Suzuki is a testament to her evolution – sonically bolder, lyrically sharper, and structurally more daring than anything before.
With her upcoming EP on the horizon, this single serves as both an announcement and a challenge: Michelle is back, faster and fiercer than ever. And if Motorcycle, Suzuki and her latest TikTok teasers are anything to go by, the journey ahead is going to be thrilling. We have added Motorcycle, Suzuki to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we continue to stream the rising star’s wider discography!