Break-up songs are hardly a rarity in popular music, but every so often one arrives that feels like a genuine act of reflection. And on ‘Love Keeps Burning Still’, Melbourne artist and songwriter Jason McKee, performing under the Reetoxa banner, delivers a deeply personal ballad that transforms the lingering embers of a failed relationship into something unexpectedly moving and hopeful.
Positioned as a softer centrepiece within an upcoming double album, ‘Love Keeps Burning Still’ reveals a very different side to Reetoxa’s songwriting. Where much of the project draws strength from rock-driven energy, this single thrives on restraint, allowing emotion, melody and atmosphere to carry the weight of the story.
Written during the isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic, the track reflects on his own relationship with his former wife Lee, whom he first met at Munich’s Oktoberfest before sharing more than a decade together. But rather than revisiting old wounds, the song approaches the past with surprising grace. There is sadness here, certainly, but also acceptance, warmth and an acknowledgement that some connections continue to exist long after relationships end.
Musically, Terry Hart’s piano work provides a gentle foundation, while the Budapest string orchestra adds a cinematic quality that elevates the track without overwhelming its intimacy. The arrangement unfolds patiently, allowing each emotional beat to land naturally as the song gradually expands into something grander and more immersive.
The addition of Jessica McPherson-Riley’s vocals proves particularly effective. Her presence brings a conversational quality to the performance, creating the feeling of two perspectives meeting somewhere between memory and reconciliation. Combined with McKee’s own heartfelt delivery, the duet format gives the song an emotional authenticity that is difficult to manufacture.
The supporting cast also deserves significant credit. Bassist Kit Riley, guitarist James Ryan, drummer Peter Marin and producer Simon Moro all contribute to a polished and richly textured production that balances sophistication with emotional immediacy.
For all its orchestral flourishes and grand ambitions, though, ‘Love Keeps Burning Still’ succeeds because of its humanity. At its core, this is a song about recognising that even when relationships end, the feelings that shaped them do not simply disappear. They evolve, settle and remain part of who we become.
With his newest offering, Reetoxa demonstrates that vulnerability can be every bit as powerful as volume. It’s a beautifully crafted ballad that showcases Jason McKee’s ability to turn deeply personal experiences into something universally relatable, offering us a poignant reminder that some fires never completely go out, they simply learn how to burn more quietly.
