Harrison Lipton’s “Sagittarius” is a sensual genre-bending anthem

By Aiden Nelson

Much like the zodiac sign the single is named after, “Sagittarius” by Harrison Lipton — released December 9 — is sensual and fiery. The Brooklyn based singer-songwriter and producer bends genre by infusing indie rock with psychedelic R&B, making the single as sensual as it is anthemic.

The song depicts a fatal attraction, being spell-bound even while knowing that the chemistry is teetering a thin line between passion and toxicity. Lipton sings in the second verse, “This chemistry will be the death of me / can’t take the heat.” The chorus has the fervent refrain of, “I love your fire.” 

There’s a masochism to the lyrics, a self-awareness in the self-destruction. Through the haze of passion and sensuality, Lipton comes to recognize that fire can only be so enchanting before you get burned. 

Lipton’s enchanting falsetto is swoon-worthy over the warm tones of the track. With its rosy synths, heavy bass lines, and driving guitar riffs, the track envelopes you in the glow of the fire that Lipton sings about. These instrumentals ground the song as Lipton’s vocals float on top in a balancing act, the single propelled as much by the lyrical storytelling as it is the precise and polished backing track. 

On the sonic inspiration behind the new single, Lipton said, “I was listening to a lot of Chiiild (his 2020 album Synthetic Soul still lives rent-free in my head), Curtis Mayfield, and that live Donny Hathaway album from 1972. I wanted to create a song that had the energy of playing live while also being meticulously crafted, a blend of psychedelia, soul, RnB and indie rock, with a hook entirely in falsetto a la Curtis Mayfield.”

This single encapsulates this inspiration in its genre-bending. “Sagittarius” feels defiant of being labeled in its execution, just as the feisty fire sign would be. The result of this defiance is a swoon-worthy single that begs to be played on late night drives with your crush, to be stuck in your head as you romanticize your life on winter nights.  

Lipton’s latest track is an ode to sensuality, to passion, and — of course — to the sign of Sagittarius.