Remember the thrill of spotting a gorgeous stranger from across the room at a house party? For all of us hopeless romantics stuck indoors, the feeling of crushing on someone from afar probably feels like a distant memory now. But with their single ‘Sidewalk’, indie artist South of France reminds us of what there is to look forward to when we can finally go out again.
The happy-go-lucky track—which is the fourth and final single from the band’s upcoming second album Remember That Cool Thing We Did, out on 26 February—opens with its contagious hook, “I see you walking down the sidewalk honey / you got me staring like a lovestruck bunny”. Jeff Cormack, the brains behind the one-man band, explains, “It’s about when someone catches your eye and you like that person’s vibe and you kinda imagine what they’re like, make that story up in your head and run with it.” The Denver-based multi-instrumentalist songwriter and producer says that, “The goal is to deliver a mental vacation.”
With its lilting melody and honeyed lyrics, the track certainly achieves this goal. The twang of the guitar, synth layers, crooning background vocals and light clash of tambourines all combine to form the upbeat, carefree tune. The drums offer a steady, hypnotising beat from beginning to end, which enhances the song’s dreamy languor. Whilst the lyrics are admittedly cliché, they suit the playfulness of the song as a whole and the innocence of the fantasy it encapsulates.
Though in reality I’ve been listening to ‘Sidewalk’ from the confines of my bedroom, in my head I’ve been transported to a sun-drenched beach. If only this song had been released later this year, because I think it would be the perfect way to herald the arrival of summer.
Words by Reem Ahmed
Photo by Garret Reed
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.