Indie-country artist Tiger La Flor’s latest single, “Motel 6,” couples early Fleetwood Mac and Eagle with a story of a nostalgic romanticism and heartbreak. The lyrics keep a mellow mood but some brighter instrumentation shows an acceptance of the past.
The lyrics of “Motel 6” shift between a literal move in location and a move in life. This dynamic is quickly established in the first two lines of the song: “slept at a Motel 6 in San Rafael / a dozen hours south of wishing you well.” The sun-filled optimism associated with Californian road trips is undercut by the second verse’s “it’s just sunlight streaming in on the passenger side,” evoking an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Yet, in the chorus, determination over the need for this lost love is emphasised by the line “I’ve been changing.” Overall, the lyrics thrive in their simplicity, giving audiences so much with very little.
As noted, the song channels early Fleetwood Mac with some elements also reminiscent of Maggie Rogers. The sliding guitars sprinkled into the intro complement Tiger La Flor’s vocal delivery, while some acoustic guitars’ harsher texture makes the vocals stand out more. The bass guitar in “Motel 6” takes up a lot of space and its raw but warm sound is an excellent reflection of the overall tone of the song. A sense of certainty amongst endless changes, an electric guitar solo in the bridge feels dreamlike and gives us a nice shift in pace before the final chorus.
Her first release of 2025, Tiger La Flor’s “Motel 6” is a nice transition from the sounds of her 2024 EP, Drugstore Cowgirl, whilst still remaining true to the ideals and artistry of the indie-country artist.
“Motel 6” by Tiger La Flor is out now.
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