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Apr 07, 2021 By Caleb Campbell Photography by Hannah Hall

Rising Los Angeles-via-Nashville singer/songwriter Gatlin debuted just last year with her 2020 EP Sugarcoated, introducing her storytelling talents, confessional lyrics, and smooth alt pop style. Not one to slow down though, Gatlin is capitalizing on momentum with a sophomore EP out this summer. Today, Gatlin has shared her first single from the upcoming EP, “What If I Love You,” premiering with Under the Radar.

“What If I Love You” is a perfect song for the changing seasons, delivering Gatlin’s alt pop at its most shimmering and heartfelt. The lyrics ostensibly reflect on longing and rejection, the result of a ‘once in a lifetime’ love that goes unrequited. Yet, the mood isn’t despondent, but rather freewheeling and nearly hopeful, covering Gatlin’s sorrows in a glassy alt pop sheen. Gatlin’s pristine vocal harmonies make for an irresistible hook, accompanied by the glittery pulse of the instrumental and richly layered production. It all comes together for the kind of track that perfectly soundtracks sun-lit springtime drives and indelible memories of young heartbreak.

Gatlin says of the track, “I wrote this song about a situation where I felt like I had found my ‘once in a lifetime’ love, but they didn’t feel that way about me. I wanted the production to feel more uplifting pop because even in the situation I was trying to always stay positive to mask the feeling of being rejected.”

She also goes on to say of the video, “I did the ‘What If I Love You’ music video with Luke Harvey of Mossflower Productions. It had been a dream of mine to shoot at Joshua Tree since making the move to Los Angeles in the beginning of 2021. I wanted the visuals to feel like a fun escape to match the production and lyrics of the track. We shot using four different camera styles (35mm, 16mm, Super 8, and vintage TV) and then combined them all in a sort of ‘montage’ final video.” Check out the song and video below and watch for Gatlin’s sophomore EP, out this summer.