Whinnie Williams Debuts With Puppy Love In “You Don’t Love Me”: Watch

Forgive us for gushing, but it’s pretty unusual for a debut single to be executed as perfectly as this one — in fact, the last time we remember being quite as gripped by the sheer loveliness of a first offering was Lana Del Rey with “Video Games” — and British singer-songwriter Whinnie Williams nabbed our full attention with “You Don’t Love Me,” a sparkly pop single that’s fine and deft in every detail.

The song evokes the nostalgic sound of Girls Aloud‘s “The Promise” and the rueful feeling of Frank + Derol‘s “Barely Love You Too,” but with a conceptual lyrical edge that’s executed with a light and deft touch. Williams’ vocals are sweet but emotive; she told Nowness that she wanted to sound like “if Coco Chanel had a music production center.” (Indeed she does.)

Fittingly, the video is a mini-masterpiece of chic style and feeling; shot almost entirely from the neck down, the short film follows the romance between Williams (as seen by her feet) as she meets a stranger who has lost his dog. Their dalliance, framed by their two adorable dogs, is sweet but unsentimental, echoing the song’s lyrical conceit with, y’know, all the puppy jokes.

Twee and romantic in just the right measures, “You Don’t Love Me” might be the most charming thing we’ve seen so far this year. Fall in love with it, puppy style.

[via Nowness]