This is one of the best things to appear in my inbox for a while. Olivia Rafferty is a London-based artist, originally from Aberdeen, making indie-inspired dreamy bedroom pop music. Created remotely with collaborators during lockdown, When You Walk In is her debut single and, bluntly, it’s fantastic. It was the carefree simplicity of the song that immediately jumped out at me – as well as the joy that just seems to be coursing through every second – and this playfulness is something that Rafferty addresses in the press release accompanying the track:

I’ve been working on a separate EP over the last few months which has been very folky and melancholy, but quarantine interrupted that process. It also reminded me that making music doesn’t always have to be perfect or serious to be good. And I think When You Walk In is a result of that attitude.

Opening with a spoken count-in followed by eight bars of a Casio drumbeat alongside palm-muted acoustic guitar, you know that you’re in for a treat. And it doesn’t disappoint either: in falls Rafferty’s quietly insistent vocal, and right from the off you find yourself held captive by the snappy pace, melodicism, and the impressive stream-of-consciousness feel of the verses. If you still need to be convinced, then by the time the chorus hits with its vocal hook of “Didn’t know that I had a language inside of me / But it talks when you walk in / Yeah it talks when you walk in” you’re well and truly onboard. The words are neat and the melody even neater.

As the song develops, more and more little details join the mix. I like the 80s electronic snare sound that drops in and bolsters the second chorus, as well as the subtle appearance of a one-finger piano line mirroring the vocal melody, and some restrained electric guitar. All of these additions are judged perfectly, and there’s a lack of self-consciousness here that just allows the song to be what it is, and go wherever it wants to go. Before the song rides out on several bars of the Casio beat that opened it, there are layers of luscious harmonies and flourishes of delay-heavy guitar adding further depth.

Overall When You Walk In really is quite refreshing in its simplicity. It’s not attempting to be anything more than what it is either – which is just, you know, fun. Having said that, the interesting thing is that there’s definitely an emotional weight to the track that can’t be ignored. It could be the beautiful tone of Rafferty’s voice, or maybe something in those layers of atmospheric guitar. Whatever it is, I absolutely love it. I think it perfectly captures that feeling you get too – you know the one – when you meet someone and all those chemicals start doing something to your brain. Then you start tripping over words and making a general idiot of yourself. Anyway, I’m sure you get the picture… it’s very good. Looking forward to hearing the “folky, melancholic” stuff next.

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You can find Olivia Rafferty on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.