Listen: Bob — The Sunshine State

Following on from her gorgeous, shimmering single Dating A Drug Dealer, The Sunshine State is back with her latest offering, Bob.

Bob builds on the aesthetics The Sunshine State, real name Skyler Stonestreet, set out on her previous single. Following on from where that song left off, Bob is again about questionable love interests:

“Bob is a classic bad boy… This song is bonfires and beer bottles crashing on the floor. A chipped tooth, a quick fling and the feeling that sometimes it doesn’t matter if the person is right or wrong for you because freedom and new adventure are the only thing on your mind.”

That easy-breezy mentality suits the music itself, which thrums with an excited, care-free energy. Just as with Dating A Drug Dealer, Bob evokes feelings of seizing the moment, doing what you want and to hell with the consequences. Bob is full of yearning, particularly when consumed from a position of relative stability, and a reminder of the thrill of uncertainty. I find it just a little addictive and captivating.

Listen: Dating A Drug Dealer — The Sunshine State

The Sunshine State is a musical project from songwriter Skyler Stonestreet. Having created hits for artists that include such luminaries as Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, Due Lipa, The Chainsmokers, and Hailee Steinfeld, Stonestreet has released a number of singles under her own name. With The Sunshine State, she brings her talents to a hazy, indie sound whilst letting the alt-pop melodies shine. It’s infectious without feeling overly polished.

Appropriately, Dating A Drug Dealer positively hums with the promise of Californian sun and busy sidewalks — the feeling of a bike ride as the sun starts to come down, or a lazy skateboard to cap a long day. The song itself feels like a tribute to embracing the moment and wilfully choosing to insulate yourself from a messy reality, as Stonestreet explains:

“Well the song title is pretty self-explanatory... but this song is about a romance that was fleeting and ultimately destructed itself. But for a moment, I was very in the moment with someone who had a lot of secrets that I was ok with him keeping.”

The result is a track that is dripping with atmosphere, making me long for big skies, hopeful dreams and maybe just a dash of danger. Stick on some sunglassed and check out Dating A Drug Dealer below:

The Sunshine State - Dating A Drug Dealer Written by Skyler Stonestreet, Hayley Penner & Nick Monson LYRICS I woke up Swayin' On the ocean Somewhere off the coast I was laughing You were joking The first to go and boast Something expensive Something pretentious Oh Best not to question How did you get that gold The less I know The less I know the better Ever since I met ya The more I wanna let you love me Love me Don’t wanna know Don’t even gotta mention How you got your mansion It’s okay just come and love me Love me I wake up You’re making me breakfast My place fits in this room We in Brentwood or in Venice? I’m getting used to Something expensive Something pretentious Oh Best not to question How do you make that dough