Positivity and looking forward has never sounded so fun. Better from Queensland’s COTTA is the new ultimate kiss-off track.
Queensland-born artist Cassidy Mackie, better known as COTTA, has an infectious feel-good energy that’s hard to refuse.
Her latest single Better provides a rarely heard perspective on the common breakup song. No more wallowing in self-pity. This is a track to put your hands up in the air to.
From the up-tempo opening synth-pads, I knew Better was utilising some stellar musical inspirations. There’s the bubblegum pop of The 1975 and the pulse of a Maggie Rogers cut, making for an easy and pleasurable listen. Like her spellbinding track Wings, COTTA and her inviolable tone is front and centre. With a very effortless flow, embedded in pop-sensibility, she tells the story of a breakup, but not like you’ve heard it before.
“I’m not getting bitter, I’m just getting better” is the track’s central message. COTTA is accepting her shortcomings and taking her positive perspective with her for the future. Getting depressed about the past has never seemed so pointless. As the synths cascade and the crisp summer drums enter post-chorus, you’ll be winding down the windows in the car and pretending you’re in a film clip. It’s the sort of summer anthem that Triple J will “froth over”, no contest.
View this post on Instagram
When asked about the shimmering single, COTTA explained that she “wanted to write a breakup/moving on anthem – but not an anthem at someone else’s expense”. Aka, the total opposite of a Taylor Swift approach. COTTA further showcases some wisdom by acknowledging that “the most important part of a breakup comes from working on yourself and growing through it”.
Without Better‘s summery instrumentation and hooky chorus, it’s possible this positive message could have been lost on the listener. But with the tone matching the message, the track’s conviction is believable, as well as being thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. Good luck getting this one out of your head. Looking forward to what’s next, COTTA!
Check out the track below:
