Gigi Perez isn’t exactly subtle, but subtlety isn’t always the goal—especially not when it comes to love songs tangled with secrets, passion, and a bit of existential dread.
Her latest single, Chemistry, dropped on 28 February 2025 after nearly three years of teasing.
Perez wrote and produced Chemistry with Aidan Hobbs, who’s worked with her on a handful of previous tracks.
The indie-folk sensation, who previously captured hearts (and TikTok algorithms) with the runaway hit Sailor Song, now delivers something even richer, more complicated, and frankly, more honest.
Chemistry kicks off with Perez’s sweet voice gliding over a minimalistic acoustic arrangement before swelling into something richer, all electric beats and atmospheric synths that might make listeners think, “Hang on, this isn’t your usual love ballad.” And they’d be right.
Gigi Perez Chemistry Lyrics Explained: A Raw Exploration
Chemistry by Gigi Perez explores the rarity and complexity of romantic connections, highlighting themes of vulnerability, hidden relationships, and emotional turmoil.
Perez uses powerful metaphors and honest lyrics to portray the struggle of maintaining secrecy around personal relationships, reflecting universal anxieties around intimacy and acceptance.
“Oh, chemistry is rare, you fucked me on the stairs,” Perez sings, setting a scene that’s both intimate and uncomfortably real.
Here’s a singer-songwriter unafraid to dive straight into vulnerability, stripping away any pretense about perfect romances or fairytale endings.
Instead, Perez is upfront about the messy reality of relationships—the fears, secrets, and the sheer thrill of letting go despite all that.
When she follows with “Who would see the beast livin’ inside me?” it’s clear we’re dealing with some dark, hidden feelings.
This isn’t just romantic chemistry; it’s emotional chaos, brilliantly mirrored by the song’s abrupt shifts from stripped-back verses to lush, intense choruses driven by electronic drums and synths.
Behind the Lyrics: Perez’s Playful (and Painfully Long) Creative Process
Gigi Perez openly joked on TikTok about the absurdly long journey behind Chemistry, admitting, “I wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking I need to cut vocals for this song,” adding wryly, “Yes, we changed the tempo and key fifty times.”
That’s Perez for you—willing to laugh at herself while painstakingly perfecting her craft.
Unpacking the Hidden Meanings in Chemistry by Gigi Perez
Perez, openly lesbian, drops lyrical hints throughout the song that point towards a hidden, perhaps even forbidden, romance.
The “secret life” she repeatedly references might reflect struggles around expressing sexuality openly.
The imagery of chaining her secret “by the tree” and a lover “keeping guard” hints at a relationship guarded closely, either due to personal hesitation or societal pressure.
Fans have speculated the secrecy might be linked to societal or personal pressures—something that echoes Perez’s breakout song Sailor Song, a queer anthem exploring similar themes of love weighed down by external judgement.
Gigi Perez’s Own Words on ‘Chemistry’
Perez neatly summed up the essence of the track in a social media post: “I wrote this song three years ago, maybe four, about the rarity of chemistry.”
Simple as it sounds, it explains everything—the frustration, the secrecy, the visceral intensity.
Sometimes chemistry isn’t just attraction; it’s a tangle of fear, excitement, and the messy, brilliant chaos of real connection.
What Makes “Chemistry” Resonate?
It’s simple. Perez isn’t just singing about love—she’s confronting the complexities that come with it.
The recurring metaphor of “cat and mouse” and hidden secrets taps into universal anxieties around intimacy, vulnerability, and acceptance.
And let’s face it, Perez’s talent for mixing raw emotional honesty with catchy melodies means listeners won’t just hum along; they’ll feel it in their bones.
Chemistry marks a strong start to Perez’s ambitious year ahead—her first headline tour kicks off this spring, and she’ll be supporting Hozier across North America.
With Chemistry, she’s proven again why she’s one of indie-pop’s most compelling artists—fearless, real, and never predictable.
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Gigi Perez Chemistry Lyrics
Verse 1
Oh, chemistry is rare
Fucked me on the stairs
For once in my life, I didn’t care that I was scared
Who would see the beast livin’ inside me?
It’s creepin’ up, I’m sweepin’ up
All of these things that I have done
Things that I have done
Things that I have done, oh
Verse 2
Oh, I am well aware
With that burnin’ stare
If this ends like all things do, I have come prepared
I have clipped a leash and left you by the tree
And in the yard, you’re keepin’ guard
You’re right where you need to be, oh
Chorus
But don’t you feel a little stuck
Every time we’re out of touch?
I will dig up what you hide
Crying doesn’t suit you well
Don’t you know I’ll never tell a soul about our secret life?
Secret life
Secret life
Secret life
Verse 3
Oh, inside of the house
The cat chases the mouse
Your mother looks and says
“Some things we just don’t talk about”
You better watch your mouth
Don’t let yourself get proud
Don’t let yourself forget the message left inside the couch
(One, two, three, four)
Chorus
But don’t you feel a little stuck
Every time we’re out of touch?
I will dig up what you hide
Crying doesn’t suit you well
Don’t you know I’ll never tell a soul about our secret life?
Secret life
Secret life
Secret life
Verse 4
Oh, down the drain you go
You poor, unfortunate soul
You got yourself involved with someone you really didn’t know
But what I’d like to do
Is make a deal with you
Make a deal with you
Make a deal with you
Make a deal with you
Make a deal with you
Make a deal with you
With you, with you, with you, with you, oh
Bridge
Ooh, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Outro
Chemistry is rare
Chemistry is rare, oh yes, it is
Chemistry is rare, oh
Oh
