Establishing the mood with a dimensional guitar performance, hummed vocalizations and captivating gasps, Chelle opens HAVE TO DO with intrigue before delivering the situational lyrics, “You think you don’t know, you’re out of control, running all around town with that girl in half a gown…”. We immediately connect with the assertive and vivid lyricism. We appreciate the authenticity and how Chelle takes us inside a complicated tale of betrayal, infidelity and knowing when someone simply isn’t worth the emotional investment – on the solar eclipse and new moon in Leo, no less!
The composition evolves with a pulsating bass and a noir cinematic sensibility. It feels fiercely nostalgic yet contemporary. Chelle‘s vocal delivery is sassy and emotionally charged, and brings a soulful grit to the narrative. The chorus really hits hard with the cutting declaration, “she will never be me, she is just your have to do…”. This transforms the song into a conscious anthem of self-worth as we refuse to accept being second choice.
We love how HAVE TO DO feels incredibly visual. The storytelling is immediate and we can almost picture the scenes unfolding around us too. There is an unapologetic confidence running through the track, though beneath the attitude is a rather relatable emotional core. Being betrayed can make us question ourselves, but Chelle flips that narrative and reminds us that the person doing the betraying is the one who should be answering for their actions.
We could easily imagine HAVE TO DO landing a sync placement in a movie like Challengers, The Rebound or Unfaithful. It would also work beautifully in a dark, stylish television drama like Euphoria on HBO, or something lighter like ELLE – the Legally Blonde prequel on Amazon.
There is genuinely nobody quite like Chelle, but fans of fierce, unapologetic artists such as Tate McRae, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and Blondie will find something to connect with here. Having already attracted support from BBC Introducing, EARMILK, Hot Press and Irish radio, Have to Do feels like another significant step forward for the Dublin singer-songwriter. We learn that the track was recorded at Bluebird Studios with producer Declan Lonergan and written entirely by Chelle.
Needless to say, we are enthralled by what Chelle is creating, and have added HAVE TO DO to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst continuing to stream her wider discography, including TROUBLE, and Kiss Me Again.