EL MICHELS AFFAIR AND CLAIRO BAND TOGETHER FOR “ANTICIPATE”

Credit of Truth and Soul Records. Protected under fair use.

Released June 2nd, Clairo’s latest collaboration is a soft, delicate inhale of hope followed by the nervous exhale of romantic uncertainty. “Anticipate,” her new single with Brooklyn soul collective El Michels Affair, is the first taste of the cinematic soul group’s upcoming album 24 Hr Sports. It could not be a more perfect continuation of the sonic world Clairo built on 2024’s Charm, feeling like a secret deluxe track from that project.

Lyrically, “Anticipate” toes the line between endearing and aching. “If you could be kinder to me, we could hash it out,” she sings, trying to smooth over conflict while still holding her ground. It’s a song about wanting love, not just the rush of it, but the patience, the kindness, the art of unlocking somebody deep within. There’s a smoothness to this song that’s hard to shake; a lo-fi jazz undercurrent pulses under every line Clairo delivers, like if her voice was wrapped in a velvet haze of drums. “I’m simply holdin’ out for love,” she repeats in the chorus, as if convincing both herself and the person she’s singing to that it’s worth the wait.

“I know it’s exciting to anticipate the comedown” feels sweet on first listen, but theres a hint of something darker, like the anticipation might be more thrilling than the love itself. That push and pull, the romantic tension, is something Clairo continues to master. 

What’s especially striking is how well this sound fits her, the jazzy, retro-tinged production from El Michels Affair doesn’t just complement Clairo’s style but it enhances it. It feels like she’s found a second skin in these textures, a continuation of the musical language she’s been refining since Charm. 

While “Anticipate” may be about waiting for love, it leaves no doubt that Clairo is already exactly where she needs to be.

Listen to Anticipate here.