If you’ve only known me as an adult, you might be surprised to learn that my younger self was a total party girl. When I went clubbing, I’d be among the first in, and among the last out. I didn’t need a single drop of alcohol the entire night, I was just there to dance until the DJ left, at dawn. The only thing I loved more than dancing was probably writing and performing music. So while an EDM drop may seem to be coming out of left field, those who knew me in high school probably wouldn’t be too surprised.

Several times, after the club kicked us out, my friends and I would cross the street to sit on the beach and watch the sunrise after dancing all night. We’d be completely sweaty and would reek of secondhand smoke (cigarettes were still legal indoors). Our makeup would be a mess, all smudged or even completely gone, but we’d be wide awake, bursting with energy, almost ecstatic, yet so peaceful.

One of my cousins recently described these post-clubbing sunrises on the beach as one of her top “feeling alive” moments, and I have to agree. Watching the world awaken, oblivious of all the excitement that transpired the night before, was an oddly satisfying feeling. And it’s that party afterglow that my collaborators and I tried to capture in “Night in Rearview”.

Peaceful scenery
That no one ever sees but me
When the DJ’s gone
But I’m still singing the songs

I feel most awake
In the tiny moment
Just before your dreams
Become memories

Rise with the night
In the disco light
When the sun goes to bed I come alive 
I'm the first in, last out every time

'Til I’m driving to meet the sunlight, 
With the night in rearview
Drifting in bliss and color
Dimming city lights
On a night in rearview
Dimming city lights
On a night in rearview
 
I’ll let the world re-open
As I close my eyes
And dream of memories
That I can’t wait to live again

Crashing through the day
I only live for the night
When the music stops to play
I am ready to rewind

Rise with the night
In the disco light
When the sun goes to bed I come alive 
I'm the first in, last out every time

'Til I’m driving to meet the sunlight, 
With the night in rearview
Drifting in bliss and color
Dimming city lights
Dimming city lights
On a night in rearview

I’m driving to meet the sunlight, 
With the night in rearview
Drifting in bliss and color
Dimming city lights
On a night in rearview
 
Driving to meet the sunlight, 
With the night in rearview
Drifting in bliss and color
Dimming city lights
 
Drifting in bliss and color
Dimming city lights
On a night in rearview

CREDITS
Topline: Sherry-Lynn Lee, Rahul Borkar, Ashley Lynn Watts
Production: Ashley Lynn Watts
Vocal & vocal production: Sherry-Lynn Lee
Mixing/mastering: Julian Gray

It was really fun to switch gears and make this ode to my party years. These days, I’m more of a “glass of wine with a small group” kind of person but I’ll always have fond memories of those clubbing all-nighters and I hope this song will find its way to the next generation of sunrise chasers!

BTW, wanted to give a shoutout to Robert Turner at Electrofans.com for the kind review! If you’re into this type of music, please consider following them and engaging with their posts.