Scarlett

Album: The Walls Are Way Too Thin (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Scarlett is Holly Humberstone's best friend. She sings this soaring synth-pop tune from Scarlett's perspective as she outlines her despair and anger after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend. Their relationship had been totally one-sided; the guy had been stringing Scarlett along before ending their romance in a cold-hearted manner.
  • Ooh, you left me waiting on a heartbreak
    I just cried all the summer away


    Holly went through all the stages of the breakup with Scarlett. "I was her closest confidant and so I knew everything she was feeling, and I'd see how passive he was with her at parties first hand," she recalled.

    After Scarlett vented to her friend for around a year, she began taking back control of her life and realized her ex wasn't worth her tears anymore.
  • Holly Humberstone wrote the song with her producer, former Dog Is Dead singer Rob Milton. The two first met after Humberstone left her performing arts college in Liverpool to focus on her music. They began collaborating and developing her sound.
  • This is a single from Holly Humberstone's second EP, The Walls Are Way Too Thin. She released it on September 7, 2021.
  • Holly Humberstone gave this song its US television debut when she performed it on the October 13, 2021 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It marked her second time on the late-night talk show, following an appearance in August 2020.
  • Humberstone's visual collaborator Raja Virdi directed the video, which finds Humberstone and the real Scarlett breaking into an airplane hangar. They steal and spray paint an arctic truck before the singer performs on the back of it as her friend drives it down the runway.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.