Goldie Vargas Revisits Initial Lockdown Feelings in “Moving in Reverse”
Words by Hannah Kozak
New Los Angeles based singer-songwriter Goldie Vargas does a perfect job of depicting a persistent sadness in her newest single, “Moving in Reverse.” Released on June 17th, the track is a slow, vulnerable recount of a difficult period in Vargas’ life well over a year ago.
Vargas wrote “Moving in Reverse” the first week of the pandemic in 2020. Many people at the time were feeling sad and nearly depressed, as everyone was forced to stay inside their homes indefinitely for the first time in their lives. Writing “Moving in Reverse” was a cathartic release for Vargas.
In the chorus, she sings “Days go by and I’m still trying to find the way to get out alive / Days go by and I’m still trying to get towards the other side.” The listener can feel the hopelessness come out in Vargas’ voice through these lyrics. Thinking back to the time when everything was so unknown and scary in early 2020, many people can most likely relate to how Vargas was feeling at the time. Even now, in 2022, many people can still unfortunately relate to feelings of hopelessness with the overturn of Roe v. Wade, countless tragedies related to gun violence, and other attacks on human rights in America. Vargas understandably had a hard time revisiting “Moving in Reverse” after she wrote/recorded the song due to the memories it brought back for her. She did not touch the song for over a year.
“It took a really mentally challenging period of my life to take me back to the final recording of the song where I discovered an entire new meaning in it,” said Vargas. “Everything I was going through with brain fog, anxiety, and depression was being said through the song and communicated in such a clear way.”
“Moving in Reverse” is only Varagas’ second single. This song and her debut single, “Strawberry Kisses,” will both be in her upcoming EP expected near the end of summer 2022. The 21-year-old proves with only two singles out that she is an incredible lyricist, singer, and creator that is exceptional at creating a feeling and emotion in under three minutes.
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