Blush will cross your heart with “X My Heart”

Photo by Nick Oei

Singapore’s Blush has returned with the lead single off of their follow-up to 2023’s Supercrush. “X My Heart” finds the band exploring sonic territories that will be appreciated by fans of early Japanese Breakfast and Alvvays, while the lyrics depict a nostalgic fantasy of a failed romance devolving into an obsession. The dreamy guitars, coming out of the gate with a soaring, heart-aching chord progression, give this song a sense of timelessness that fits the subject matter.

Throughout “X My Heart,” singer Soffi Peters pines for a love that isn’t working out. The song starts with a quick shaker before Peters (and the rest of the band) commits to indulging in the nostalgia for this relationship, even when it’s painful. “It’s been 70 days / since I last saw your face,” she begins. “It hurts then it doesn’t / all the time.” Despite the pain, the music makes it clear she isn’t wallowing. The melody is comforting, and when the chorus comes in, so do a lush layer of harmonies. “I try so hard / but still we fall apart / don’t you know I love you everyday?” she sings, confident that she can still make this work.

The second verse leans into this romantic side (“It’s hard to feel lonely / when you smile,” “don’t let the season fade”) before this feeling morphs into an obsession (”Like the world is ending / when you cry,” “I cross my heart and hope to die / in this sick sad world that’s never mine”). As she leans more into these feelings, her voice begins to distort, before giving way to a guitar solo while she regains her composure for the final chorus.

While the track itself is an upbeat pop song, the lyrics depict the dark feelings of a fantasy starting to unravel. The video does a good job illustrating the rollercoaster of emotions Peters experiences throughout the song. The video starts in her bedroom, which is bathed in the same neon-pink as the cover art and adorned with a set of dolls getting married. By the second verse, she is stalking her crush dressed as a bride before eventually chasing him through an apartment complex while the imagery gets progressively more unhinged.

As a fan of this type of indie rock, “X My Heart” left an impression on me right away, and was a great introduction to the band. I’ve since gone back to check out Supercrush, and while I enjoyed it, this single shows a band that’s leveled up their game and has left me excited to hear the rest of the album. Speaking of which, this single was accompanied by the announcement of their sophomore record, titled Beauty Fades, Pain Lasts Forever, a title which this song definitely lives up to. The album will be released August 1, 2025. Along with the album, they will be embarking on a tour throughout the US later this summer. You can find more information here.