Kim Petras’s ‘Malibu’ Might Be the Song of the Summer

Let's be honest -- at this point, we're all pretty over life under lockdown. Which is exactly why we're obsessed with the glittery, sugary, summery new single that's fulfilling all our '90s Baywatch fantasies, "Malibu," by Kim Petras. With the video having dropped last night, we got a chance to chat with the petite powerhouse of pop about the new song and video, and how she's dealing with life in lockdown.

"I've been playing Animal Crossing with my fans and I've been watching a million horror movies," Petras writes to Out in an email interview. "I've been doing what I can to stay sane, make songs, and stay creative. I've been trying to keep my mental health in check and check up on my friends and fans -- either on Twitter where I am every day or in group chats -- to make sure they're doing okay. If I can make people feel good about themselves right now, then that's something really meaningful to me."

Well, we're certainly glad she's still been feeling creative and writing songs because "Malibu" is giving us all the fantasy pop escapism we need right now. Following her break-up banger "Reminds Me," this fun, beached-themed bop will certainly be another hit, adding to the more than 320 million global streams the young German chanteuse has already racked up from previous singles.

"I love the idea and image that is burned into my brain about Malibu, like Malibu Barbie and Baywatch," explains Petras. "The song is very inspired by what I thought Malibu was before I even got there. There was always something about how they make it look on TV."

"I'm from Germany, so all these places have a magic to them because you see them in movies and they look so amazing," she continues. "It's the total fantasy of what I thought it would be like. As for the song itself, I'm comparing that feeling and the fantasy of Malibu to a guy. It's a hyper-pop love song about someone unforgettable."

Petras also says the song represents a very personal turning point in her life -- a shift back to a happier, healthier, and more joyful place after experiencing heartbreak.

"'Malibu' is a return to color, the feeling of being in love, and the escapism pop that I love the most," says Kim. "After [full-length project] Clarity, I had cried all my tears and moved on, so this is a reflection of how I've been feeling. I just want "Malibu" to be a fizzy, refreshing drink that comes to you during this quarantine and makes you forget all your anxieties. I hope this can be a little vitamin shot that brightens your day."

Check out the song and super-cool animated video for "Malibu" here:

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