It’s easy to get lost, lost in the moment, lost driving around, or maybe in a good book. Right from the beginning of Driving Woman, you get lost in the music; there is a fast fluttering synth that leads into some big four-on-the-floor drums and an inescapable bassline. Guitars fill in some space with some repetitive notes and a thick pad sits behind blending everything into one mass. The result is a full, saturated dark tone that holds you at its will, forcing you deeper into the music. Michelle Zauner’s voice floats over top of it all speaking about who she really wants to be, then goes on to repeat, “I want it all.” The vocals then cut out, allowing space for more synths and a guitar solo giving time to get lost with that thought, “I want it all.”
When the next verse conjures, it appears that she has lost someone, someone close and she is left picking up the pieces. Maybe she got too caught up with her own fantasies she lost what was right in front of her. The song progressively gets a bit more manic, at this point as she has to cope with the loss which is represented by distortion on the synths and guitars, as well the notes getting wilder and more strung out. The song is so easy to fall into, these subtle changes can go unheard until the result is so in your face you are left wondering how you got to this place.
The last section of the lyrics go from, “you’ll have it all,” to “we’ll have it all,” concluding with “I’ll have it,” showing the true intentions of the tune. Is the song about selfishness, is it about building a home, or is it about a driven woman?
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About the curator - Nick Malpezzi
Nick Malpezzi is a lover of nature, cats, beer, and music. When he’s not at his day job he is recording artists, working on films, writing music, taking pictures and enjoying life. He believes complexity is derived from simplicity, which is seen in his musical tastes and original productions.
