‘Lesbian Jesus’ Hayley Kiyoko has dropped a new single, “Greenlight,” co-written by Jesse St. John. Kiyoko performed the song for the first time on her recent Panorama tour which is currently wrapping up.
Kiyoko strips back the sweetness found in tracks like “Cherry,” a collab with Fletcher, in “Greenlight.” Instead, she offers up a mature track with a driven beat and reflective lyrics. Kiyoko sings about her bad decisions playing a role in things falling apart, while also blaming a subconscious drive to follow red lights, waiting for them to change color, instead of travelling the roads with “green lights” already lit up.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Kiyoko says that “Greenlight” is about removing obstacles that prevent growth. “I’ve spent a lot of time and energy trying to prove my worth to people but have realized that if a situation in life is stopping you from moving forward or making you feel trapped, it’s okay to pivot in a new direction,” she explains.
Moving obstacles isn’t enough, however, we must plant energy in fruitful soil. “Once I embraced that mindset, so many new doors opened. ‘Greenlight’ is about making an active decision to put your energy into the things that are working.”
“Greenlight” is also about removing negativity from our lives and surrounding ourselves with people who want the best for us. “Of course, there will be roadblocks along the way,” Kiyoko says, “but we become our best selves when we surround ourselves with people who challenge us in a healthy way, encourage us to keep digging deeper and support our overall journey.”
