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Known first and foremost as “Kombucha Girl,” Renaissance woman Brittany Tomlinson — more popularly known as Brittany Broski — has built a presence on multiple social media platforms, amassing 7.6 million followers on TikTok alone. Noting Tomlinson’s love of singing, along with her passion for learning and laughing, Caterina Nasr from Elektra Records sent a fateful email proposing a potential collaboration. Luckily for both parties, and listeners around the world, Tomlinson happily obliged. Shortly after her viral cover of Harry Styles’ “Adore You,” she released her debut single, “The Sun.”

Immediately, the short, synthesizer-like introduction establishes a jazzy, moody tone that is carried throughout the song. The song’s unique 6/8 time signature — often found in folk music — gives it a rhythmic sway, while the percussion, bass, and layered background vocals allow Tomlinson’s voice to shine while maintaining a full-bodied, intricate foundation.

The slowed tempo leaves space at the end of the lyrics for Tomlinson to riff and linger on certain notes, another subtle example of her talent. The crescendo into the chorus and decrescendo back into the verses creates a powerful dynamic between different lyrics while taking listeners through a range of emotions in accordance with the instruments following the same pattern. In the final chorus and outro, Tomlinson harmonizes with herself over increasingly prominent guitar riffs, ending the song with a satisfying swell that feels like a revelation in self-love.

The chorus’ triplet climb-downs showcase Tomlinson’s range and add weight to the emotion of the vivid lyrics like, “And you spin me around ‘til you’re done/I’ll give you my light but I can’t be the sun.” Previous lyrics ask “How am I too good but still not enough?” and metaphorically consider the artist to be the moon, fitting with the discussion on the difficulty in the dating world that Tomlinson often features in her podcast, The Broski Report.

Other lyrics, such as, “Thought someone like you would never hurt me” and “Thought that maybe in the end, you would choose me,” establish the hurt but not-quite-heartbroken mood. Beginning the song with a religious reference,the opening lyric, “Turn your water into wine,” elevates Tomlinson to an ethereal realm on par with being the moon and “hangin’ the stars in your sky.” These lyrics, coupled with the jazzy guitar riffs, ensure the song feels classy and timeless.

At its core, the chorus evidences the artist’s refusal to become someone she isn’t — “I’ll give you my light but I can’t be the sun” shows her self-confidence by offering herself as she is while intent on remaining true to herself. The jazzy instrumentals compliment Tomlinson’s sultry sound which — combined with the conflicting themes in the lyrics — yields a subtly inspirational song. Rather than romanticizing heartbreak, she accepts these emotions and in doing so, maintains her self-worth in the end. Tomlinson reminds both herself and her listeners that the light of the moon is no less radiant than the sun.

—Staff writer Madelyn E. McKenzie can be reached at madelyn.mckenzie@thecrimson.com.