As 2025 unfolds, country music artist Ashley Cooke is giving fans a glimpse into what’s to come with her highly anticipated sophomore album. Sharing a demo of a new song titled “Dance Around It” on social media, Cooke reveals a deeply personal track inspired by her own relationship experiences.
In the song, Cooke takes listeners into a turbulent romantic relationship that keeps drawing her back despite its clear complications. She sings: “You smelled like California and Casamigos when you walked in the door / Same one you taped a note on saying ‘goodbye’ just three weeks before.” This sets the stage for a story of emotional tension and unresolved feelings, highlighting a cycle of breakups that never seem to stick.
The lyrics convey a sense of reluctant familiarity, with Cooke confessing that the repeated conversations about their relationship’s flaws only lead to a predictable conclusion: “I don’t wanna have that conversation we’ve had a hundred times / It’ll just end in us saying we know it isn’t right / But damn it’s good to see you with that look in your eyes / I won’t even try to lie.”
The chorus further explores the couple’s inability to break free, as they give in to their instincts and choose to ignore the truth for one more dance around the issue: “Oh, we know that we can’t fix it / But we can’t admit it / So let’s dance around it…” The seductive, synth-driven melody and heavy drums create an intoxicating backdrop for this emotionally charged tune, giving it a fresh feel that pushes the boundaries of country music.
Cooke’s sound on “Dance Around It” mirrors the genre-blending style of artists like Kelsea Ballerini, particularly her Rolling Up The Welcome Mat project, while also drawing from the sonic experiments heard on her debut album, Shot In The Dark. After scoring her first No. 1 hit at both U.S. and UK country radio with the single “your place” last year, Cooke has been steadily working on her follow-up album, and fans are eagerly awaiting more updates.
With “Dance Around It,” Cooke continues to evolve as an artist, blending honesty and vulnerability with a sound that is both unique and familiar. Stay tuned for more as she prepares to release her next big project.
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