CHERISE is back with her latest single, "Butter." It is a delight and is also a metaphorical journey into the complexities of human perception and connectivity. There's a disarming vulnerability to the way she delivers each line, almost coaxing us to move past that preliminary projection, to resist the fascination with perception, and embrace the depth and value of knowing a person for who they are. The production is breezily lush, balancing groove-heavy instrumentation with ethereal textures that leave room for her storyteller's spotlight.
It's a soul set in the present day, subtly jazz-tinged and dripping with sincerity. But beyond sounding great, "Butter" also feels great, the type of track that worms its way into your brain and forces you to think twice about how quickly you form judgments of the people around you. CHERISE knows how to cut deep lyrically without ever raising her voice. She considers the perils of presuming to know others, the intricacies of identity, and the sweet freedom of being truly seen. "Butter" is the rare song that whispers in confidence and grace, making vulnerability a strength. "Butter," as the EP's title track, is setting the bar high. It's a whole project dedicated to not just excellence but real, human stories, the kind that stick to your soul and gradually change the way you perceive the world.
On "Butter," CHERISE is doing more than sharing music, she's beginning a dialogue. And if this single is anything to judge the project by, it's worth lending an ear to. The result is Butter, a track so honest, so close, and so completely smooth that it serves as a welcome reminder that the softest things can knock the hardest. CHERISE sings the peeling back of layers and lives it. And in the process, she has written a song that is as contemplative as it is catchy.