Words By: Bre Offenberger

Up-and-comer Marzz has released the video for “Cleopatra,” a collaboration with the legendary Timbaland as well as Justin and Jordan Mosley and NES. The track is an ideal one to blast when you need to cool off and watch the world stop turning for a moment — but the devastating lyrics will pull you right back.

The track opens with honeyed guitars filling up the room, embracing every ear it reaches with warmth. Marzz arrives, harmonizing and somehow adding a pinch of magic to an already idyllic atmosphere. As she starts to spew lyrics of longing for someone she knows isn’t right for her, subtle trap-like percussion emerges, popping with flair over her calm yet blatantly frustrated demeanor. Marzz confronts her partner with vocalization as gentle and sweet as freshly picked strawberries, telling them she knows they can’t live without each other, even though they’re both aware of how toxic their situation is.

She switches it up in verse two, turning to rap to remind them how she always takes care of them, but that’s never reciprocated when she’s in need. Marzz finally realizes her feelings now aren’t worth an uncertain future with someone who doesn’t treat her right. The vibe completely shifts after the second rendition of the chorus, with all the soothing guitars dying and the instrumentation stripping back to percussive sounds to amplify Marzz’s words. After giving them — as well as herself — some time to clear their heads, Marzz is back to her partner, asking if they can start over. With vocal runs that’ll make you involuntarily drop your jaw, she asks if they can just spend one night together vibing and forgetting about how they got here. The track ends with no answer, just gorgeous humming as the world fades to nothingness.

The video finds Marzz walking underneath a highway, divulging her exasperation with her relationship via hand gestures. Even though the situation is aggravating, Marzz is nonetheless feeling herself through it all. Intermittently, the camera pans out and Marzz is seen lying on a spray-painted walkway, basking in the sunshine and forgetting her worries. Other times, she holds a 360-degree camera to showcase her entire view as she dances through her pain. In the second, more reflective half of the track, Marzz sits down to think through her emotions. The video fades out with a complete view of Marzz’s world as she lies down and tries to forget it.

“Cleopatra” is the follow-up to Marzz’s debut single, “So Frequently,” which dropped back in February. Marzz is the latest signee of Keep Cool and is about to be on a tear, thanks to the irreplaceable vibe machine that is “Cleopatra.” You’ll want to keep her on your radar — because what’s next is bound to be even more exceptional.