Bacchanalia Magazine

by Reb Jordin

Hazel Gerson, a California based pop rock singer songwriter, is set to release her single ‘Stone Cold Sober’ on April 19th to the anticipation of her fans. The song takes you on an emotional whirlwind reminiscent of attending a summer house party in your favourite sparkly dress with your eyeliner just right. You meet someone as the night is just beginning and think you can call it love and then just a few hours later you realise just how wrong you were, and are left crying to your friends heartbroken with that perfect makeup all smudged.

The song opens with a sultry guitar riff and Hazel’s siren-like vocals, drawing the listener into the relatable story she is about to tell. The second verse houses standout lyrics, ‘do you believe in love at first sight? Always trying to get to know me for a night’ in which Hazel conveys a casual type of love affair whether both partners realise it or not. Here Hazel creates vivid imagery where you can practically see the glitter painted eyelids lit up in the
flashing lights catching those of another across the room.

The single is stripped back by the acoustic guitar and rich harmonies in the pre-chorus. The lyrics, ‘you’ve got all my girlfriends checking my location’ paint the picture of being blinded by how seemingly perfect someone is whilst all your friends warn you how dangerous and toxic they really are.

The chorus is driven by a cacophony of satisfying baselines and an angsty drumbeat mixed flawlessly with her beautifully controlled voice. Listeners are greeted with the lyrics, ‘I’ve been wasted stone cold sober you walk in I’m falling over why do I feel like you can see right through me?’ In this moment Hazel conveys the type of infatuation that makes you lose all sense of your mind and body. This person makes you second guess everything as all you want to do is impress them and appear like the confident life of the party even though you know you’re not. This person changes you which isn’t a good thing, but you often realise this too late.

‘Stone Cold Sober’ feels like being at a house party, where the floor is sticky with cheap spilt drinks and the walls are shaking from the intensity of the speakers. Girls are crying to strangers in the bathroom whilst the people they’re crying about are none the wiser. The whole song feels like a right of passage in growing up and making mistakes over someone you meet one night who you think you love but really just love the idea of as they will always be unattainable.

So go and check out ‘Stone Cold Sober’ and revel in the irresistible beat and the intoxicating story it tells. Also go check out Hazel’s other amazing music and her band ‘The No Shows’ as we await what comes next for this talented artist.