Kailie Simpson has never been afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve, but on ‘Patti Smith’, she’s rolling those sleeves up, grabbing a fuzzed-out guitar, and diving headfirst into pure, free fun. Clocking in at just under two minutes, this raw, garage-built anthem trades the candlelit drama of her earlier ballads for a wild-eyed summer fling; part punk poetry, part sweaty basement show, and entirely irresistible.
From the opening line, “Call me Patti, I’ll be your muse,” Simpson sets the scene: two artists in love with each other’s chaos, painting in colours that bleed outside the lines. It’s lo-fi in the best way, with chugging guitars, scuffed-up amps, and a rush of live-wire energy that feels like it was captured in one breath.
That spontaneity runs through every bar. Written alongside Jackson Bell and Bryan Framhein, ‘Patti Smith’ was born in a spirit of play, Simpson telling her band to “pretend you’re 13, in your parents’ garage playing guitar for the first time.” You can hear it as the track fizzes with that reckless, first-band buzz, where mistakes aren’t flaws but sparks.
What makes ‘Patti Smith’ so magnetic is how naturally Simpson bridges reverence and rebellion. The track nods to its namesake as a spark, channelling the poet-punk ethos into something modern, flirty, and alive. It’s the sound of an artist loosening her grip on perfection and finding power in the flaws, proof that raw edges often cut the deepest.
While long-time fans might be surprised by the shift from torch songs to this breezy, punk-dusted detour, ‘Patti Smith’ feels like a necessary exhale. It’s a reminder that not every chapter has to be heavy, sometimes the most powerful statement is a grin and a guitar turned up too loud.
If this single is the opening shot of her next era, we’re in for a season of grit, glitter, and unapologetic joy. Throw on your headphones, head to Washington Square Park, and let ‘Patti Smith’ soundtrack your summer mischief.
