Rachel Cousins’ latest single “Summer Lovin'” should not be mistaken for Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta’ s 1978 hit from Grease, “Summer Nights,” but it’s still an obvious successor to the heady hormone-fueled bop. Aside from the lyrical tie-in, Cousins’ new single is similarly about making just as much trouble as memories while the heat has got everyone thirsty.
“This is about falling in love in the summer, like a teen romance movie where it’s like they’re the only two people there,” explains Cousins.
“I guess at 19, it’s like all my teenage things are coming to me now and I look back with extreme fondness on all the fun I have and had, and even the trouble I got in to. I also just love the idea of a teen couple tearing up a town together and having a big spark and invincible chemistry.”
The song packs a punch, with some particularly vivid descriptions of staying out all night and disapproving parents displeased at finding the couple drunk in their pool that are somehow both comical and painful to imagine.
“Summer Lovin'” was crafted as part of a co-write session with Toronto-based alternative rock/electronic trio Bon Villan, organized through their shared publisher, Cymba Publishing.
“We really didn’t have the intention of writing for release,” says Cousins. “We thought maybe for pitching to another artist but they banged out the track and I had a melody and lyrics in my head and they immediately worked. As soon as I did a demo for the guys I realized I really wanted this song for myself to release.
“First big dance bop since ‘Let Go’, so I wanted it to be a good vibe for the summer. It’s probably my favourite release yet.”
While “Summer Lovin'” is only intended as a Summer single and unlikely to appear on a new album, according to Cousins she is currently in the midst of working on a full album, with a release planned for sometime next year.