What if I wanna stay? What if I wanna go? What if I simply don’t want to do what everyone expects me to do? These questions sit at the heart of “Choosing Myself,” the latest single from Budapest-based artist særa. Rather than presenting self-love as a polished destination, the track embraces the uncertainty of figuring out what feels right,and giving yourself permission to choose it.
Originally conceived for a surf-trip after-movie, “Choosing Myself” quickly became something far more personal. Too moody for the original project, the song could have been reshaped into something brighter. Instead, særa trusted its emotional truth, turning what initially seemed like a mismatch into the foundation of a new musical chapter.
Built around særa’s acoustic guitar performance, recorded in one continuous take, the track has an organic sense of movement. Producer and co-writer NYPE expands that foundation into a cinematic alternative rock soundscape, incorporating field recordings and ocean-inspired textures that evoke distant ships and whales. The result feels both expansive and intimate, like drifting through open water while simultaneously turning inward.
The lyrics are where the song’s message becomes especially striking. “What if I wanna stand down / What if I wanna sit / In the dark room / While the sun is lit?” Rather than offering another glossy version of self-love, særa makes space for contradiction. Choosing yourself might mean going out; it might mean staying in. It might even mean sitting in the dark while the world insists you should be enjoying the sunshine.
That emotional honesty gives the song its weight. Emerging from a difficult personal period, “Choosing Myself” reflects særa’s realization that constantly absorbing other people’s emotions and expectations can mean losing sight of yourself. Here, self-love becomes less about positivity and more about permission.
The single also marks a shift away from earlier breakup-focused material toward a broader, more rock-oriented direction. Influences from J.J. Cale, Pink Floyd, Funkadelic, Steppenwolf, and The Kinks can be felt in its spacious, earthy character, while a guest jazz-guitar solo adds another dimension.
Særa’s “Choosing Myself” is indeed a statement of artistic freedom; and a quietly powerful reminder that sometimes, choosing yourself is the boldest choice you can, and should make!
