Susannah Joffe’s "Horses Can’t Outrun Me” Is Dream-Pop Perfection
It seems Susannah Joffe has jumped head-first into pop, but don’t you worry, she hasn’t left her cinematic country world behind. In her latest single, “Horses Can’t Outrun Me,” Joffe sticks to her tradition of genre-bending, pulling elements from multiple musical worlds and making them feel not only cohesive but essential to the emotional impact of her songs. Now blending pop, shoegaze, and Americana with her signature storytelling, she has effortlessly crafted a track that feels entirely new and exciting, yet still undeniably hers.
“Horses Can’t Outrun Me” perfectly showcases Susannah’s ability to write lyrics with the ability to express multitudes of feeling. Regret, desire, and longing are strung through the song in a way so emotionally transparent that listening feels like watching a movie. Joffe’s words carry a quiet emotional precision, managing to express complexity without ever over-explaining. She doesn't just sing about feeling, she pulls you into the feeling itself.
The track captures the feeling of a runner’s high, not only lyrically, but sonically. Much like Joffe’s “Sofia Coppola,” “Horses Can’t Outrun Me” is as dreamy as it gets. Leaning into the hazy nostalgia provided by mesmerizing distorted guitars and a vintage omnichord, it’s the kind of sound that makes you want to hit the road with the windows down, even if you’re not sure where you’re going. The production transforms the track into something bittersweet, making it the perfect listen for the happy-sounding sad-song enthusiasts .
Susannah’s EP, “Cult Leader,” comes out June 27, and we can only expect her to continue to prove that she can’t be boxed in—only chased and never caught.
Listen to “Horses Can’t Outrun Me" below: