“So it went like this,” Audrey Hobert released her second single Bowling alley in June 2025, and reinstated a lesson worth repeating: the grass is always greener, the syndrome is always imposter.

Hobert creates a narrative arc through a sound that’s very mid-2000s Rom-Com, where she wants to be both the most important person in the room (when she’s winning) and alone in her room in a nightgown with a late night breeze. A terribly relatable conundrum for the ambivert with a low social battery.

Despite the catchiness, the song doesn’t have the same build-up or excitement as Hobert’s first single, Sue me. It wouldn’t make sense, obviously, as the soundscape of Sue me is deliberately chaotic and grabs your attention, but the lack of build-up in this track doesn’t serve it as well as a stronger bridge, or heightened ad lib, could have.

Unfair slights I’ve seen against this track, however, is that it is “childish” or “forgettable,” wielded probably because of its acoustic, stripped-back production. True—the production isn’t that interesting, but it makes sense for the narrative drive of the lyrics. Letting the story thrive is key to the Hobert song-style, if the last two singles and unreleased music have anything to say.

Especially when, in an instance like this, the messaging is also central to Hobert’s musical identity. It’s important to remember that this early on in her career, a focus should rightfully be placed on who she is as an artist. In this case, she seems to be one that clambers between wanting success, but still wanting to avoid social situations wherein she is only wanted for that success. In those instances, “out the window, through the trees,” she should just be able to see an escape to home.

These are all very internalised emotions however, which she even acknowledges, “Who’s gonna tell ‘em I’m a lucky beginner?”, but speak very true to the plight of a creative, especially in the music industry. Hobert evinces this reality in such a charming way, that you risk overlooking its depth. And maybe it really isn’t that deep! Maybe this song really is just about a girl who forgot about a bowling alley party. But that, to me, is still quite interesting, especially when the diaristic indulgences include Irish goodbye-ing and a forgotten candle still burning away in her room while she’s out.
Like I expressed in my review of Sue me, this is a testament to her screen-writership, where she can comfortably weave in a storyline, and paint vivid scenes in the songs. The music video for this song is also pretty awesome, by the way, and hosts a dance battle in true Hobert fashion… very mid 2000s!

It’s not as impactful as Sue me, but like I said, this release isn’t necessarily all about the song itself, but rather building a better identity for Hobert as an artist. She even stated outright that “if Audrey Hobert were a song, it would probably be this one.” And this latest addition, paired with Sue Me, paints Hobert to be a versatile artist—all at once confident and confused, fighting the intrinsic fire of imposter syndrome. Strikingly relatable and honest, she “turn[s] the light on and stare[s] at the prize.” This sophomore single tells us there will be many prized moments in her career moving forward; keep an eye on our “lucky beginner,” this debut project is likely to be a winner.