A CONVERSATION WITH... SUKI SUMMER
We talked with Suki Summer about her debut EP, LOVESICK AND SICK OF LOVE, as she invites listeners into an emotionally rich world of queer romance, heartbreak, and self-discovery, woven through dreamy soundscapes and lyrics that feel like pages torn straight from a diary.
LOVESICK AND SICK OF LOVE captures both the sweetness and burnout of love. What inspired the duality in the title and concept?
I think it’s just the human experience to fall in and out of love and to have and lose connections with people. I felt that you couldn’t experience the more beautiful moments of love without the bad parts as well, so it seemed necessary to have songs which explored both sides of the same coin.
How do you personally define the difference between being “lovesick” and being “sick of love”?
I think for me, being lovesick is the longing for someone else. It's the excitement of having a crush, the sweet parts of falling for someone, the realisation you really care for that person. I think being sick of love is the exaggeration of failed talking stages, confusing situationships, and being hurt by someone you care for.
You’ve said the EP explores “the repetitive nature of modern dating.” What aspects of dating culture felt most emotionally exhausting to you?
Dating apps. The needless small talk, the surface-level connection, hookup culture, the lack of real intimacy and communication, and ghosting.
Which track was the most emotionally difficult to write, and why?
I found ‘Marianne’ very emotional because the situation which inspired it was very recent when I wrote it. However, ‘i still want u’ was definitely the most challenging because it was about someone from the past, and it was tough to revisit all those emotions and feelings from that period of my life.
‘i still want u feels’ like the raw core of the EP. Was there a specific experience that inspired it?
Yes, it is about a specific person and relationship I had, but it is also about struggling to move on when you are not fully healed from previous relationships.
What was your writing process like? Did these songs come in a flood or build over time?
It varies between the different tracks. Some of them were written very quickly in one sitting. Others I wrote fragments of and then came back to them later and added to them and changed bits.
How did travelling through Italy influence ‘Marianne’, both lyrically and sonically?
I had a summer romance with someone I met while travelling in Italy. His love of the book Normal People and the parallels of that story and our brief relationship inspired the lyrics. Musically, I wanted it to have the same nostalgic summery feel to it.
You cite artists like Clairo and Mazzy Star. What elements of their work resonate most with you?
I love the layering Clairo uses vocally in her music, as it’s something I really enjoy doing in my own music. Mazzy Star has such an ethereal, soft sound to their music, which I wanted to create in my song ‘used to you’.
Your production is dreamy yet emotionally sharp. How do you strike that balance between softness and intensity in your music?
I think writing honestly allows for that intensity. I think the softness comes through with the rawness of some of my lyrics as well as the layering of harmonies in the vocal production.
Were there any unexpected influences, books, films, or conversations that helped shape the EP’s mood?
So many! I changed the entire lyrics to ‘Marianne’ on the way to the studio because of a text I had received that morning from the person who influenced the song. There were a lot of conversations that influenced the writing process, both with the people who inspired the songs and with friends reflecting on situations. Travelling in Italy and the experiences I had there inspired me to begin this project.
‘Summer Crush’ touches on a queer summer romance. How important is it for you to tell queer love stories in your music?
I think it's just important to be yourself, and I’m very lucky to be able to express that safely and openly.
How has your identity influenced your lyrical perspective, especially when writing about intimacy and heartbreak?
I think it does influence it as I’m writing from my own personal experiences, but I think I do try to write lyrics in a way that people can interpret and relate to in their own way.
The final track, ‘outro (it’s nvr bye it’s jus c ya l8r)’, feels like an emotional release. How did you decide to end the project on such a quiet note?
I wanted the outro to be soft as it's a personal acceptance of a relationship I had been over, and me letting go of that. I wanted it to sound as though the ocean was washing over me, hence we added the waves onto the end of it. This was also a nod to the first track ‘Summer Crush’, which starts with the sound of waves.
What do you hope listeners take away after experiencing the EP from start to finish?
I hope the EP is healing and relatable, and people just enjoy the little journey the songs take them on.
How do you envision your sound evolving after this project? Is there a new emotional or sonic territory you’re excited to explore?
I plan to just keep writing about things I experience. I think my music tends to always go the way it needs to. I try not to set too many boundaries with my creativity.
