Much to my excitement, Ashley Kutcher has released a heartfelt new single “I Can’t Swim.” via Darkroom/Interscope Records/Universal Music Canada. The slow-building ballad tells an all-too relatable tale—giving in to the temptation of an ex. This marks the singer-songwriter’s second release this year, following her acclaimed Survive My Own Mind EP in late 2022.
On “I Can’t Swim,” Kutcher mixes lust and regret into a potent, poignant brew. From the top, her crystal-clear voice cuts through a driving guitar riff. “Why’d you show up here?” she seethes, “You were uninvited.” But soon her tune changes. A moody piano ups the drama and she melts into a kiss. “I just can’t escape from my favourite mistake,” she admits. The thrill and regret of it all is like jumping into the deep end. “I don’t wanna fall back in, honey you know I can’t swim,” she sings, her voice undulating like a gentle wave as a layer of guitars build up all around her. It’s a powerful metaphor for falling back into the arms of a former lover.
“I Can’t Swim” follows the soaring “Everyone and No One,” an equally bittersweet breakdown of love and doubt. Both tracks come after Kutcher’s whirlwind 2022, a year highlighted by her Survive My Own Mind EP, which featured the stripped-down “Love You More”—a fan-favorite with more than 11 million streams on Spotify alone. The EP also contained the acoustic TikTok sensation “Nothing’s All the Time,” as well as the infectious “Emotionless.”
Kutcher recently wrapped up her first-ever headlining tour earlier this year, which saw seven out of her ten shows sold-out, including her stops in Los Angeles and New York City. With “I Can’t Swim,” she continues to flex her songwriting prowess, hinting at more good things to come.
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
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