Artist Highlight: Saliva

Like much of our species’ favourite media, Saliva’s ‘High On Me: Retold’ invites multiple interpretations. Rich with imagery and layered metaphors, it demands repeat listens to untangle what’s really going on.

To me, the lyrics explore the allure of escapism—whether through drugs, fantasies, or relationships—while questioning the authenticity of the highs we chase. They challenge our tendency to reduce life to simple choices: “You’re so fucking black and white.” 

There’s a tension between desire and disappointment as if the song calls out how we convince ourselves that something is fulfilling just because we need it to be. It suggests that the rush of intoxication—whether chemical or emotional—isn’t necessarily proof of something real, but rather a distraction from the grey areas we won’t confront.

This concept, paired with Saliva’s signature heavy instrumentation, makes the song hit hard. Had this theme played out in another genre, it might not have smacked you in the face with the same impact. The track expertly balances crushing choruses with stripped-back verses, maintaining intensity without veering into chaos. Everything is tight, sharp, and controlled—a feat not easily achieved in heavier music.

We all know life is layered and contradictory, but for some—perhaps the song’s subject—that complexity is unbearable. ‘High On Me: Retold’ asks the listener: Is what you’re clinging to truly fulfilling, or just another form of self-deception?

⁠Listen below:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0reriKDAcLBIEgf3QjX6DC

Becks

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