Korean-American R&B pop artist Maddie Park encompasses the first moments of the honeymoon phase with someone when you are carefree and happy with her new single “soulmate (don’t wanna cry).” This is her second single of the year, leaning into heavier pop influences for this track that really complement her voice. The melody and lyricism in the song are true to commercial pop that will attract a wider audience. It’s no shock she pays tribute to having been inspired by artists in her genre like Ariana Grande, Jhene Aiko, and SZA, all powerhouses in the pop and R&B space.
The song opens with a piano melody which is bound to catch the listener’s attention immediately as it’s something slightly different than what’s expected. However, her vocals truly take center stage on the track. She has this airy, ethereal voice that sings all the lyrics as if painting in one stroke. There are parts of the song that are sped up, as if to mimic the thoughts and feelings that get bundled up and are indistinguishable when faced with the infatuation of the honeymoon phase.
Lyrically, the dynamic of the song seems to portray a slight paradox. It’s expressed that there’s this obsession with having found a new partner that looks like your soulmate, yet there’s an acknowledgement or fear of getting hurt and not fully trusting this person. The lyrics in the chorus go “You look like my soulmate / kinda really hurts babe / tell me that you want me / go ahead and lie / go ahead and lie I don’t want to cry.” The song, at first glance, comes off as a traditional R&B pop song, but there are definitely layers to it. It’s a song you need to listen to more than once to understand it through and through.
