You’ve probably heard it by now. That raw, almost jarring opening line about chemistry being rare and an encounter on the stairs. It’s the kind of songwriting that makes you pull over or stop scrolling because it feels like you accidentally walked into a room where someone is mid-argument with their own soul. Chemistry by Gigi Perez isn't just another indie-folk track riding the wave of her viral "Sailor Song" fame; it’s a darker, much more claustrophobic look at what happens when a "secret life" starts to rot from the inside out.
Honestly, the chemistry gigi perez lyrics act like a fever dream. One minute she's celebrating a connection that feels divine, and the next, she’s talking about a "beast" living inside her and sweeping up the messes of her past. It’s messy. It’s beautiful. It’s deeply uncomfortable.
The Story Behind the Secret Life
Gigi Perez has this way of writing that feels like a confession whispered in a church basement. Born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, she’s been open about her journey—from the grief of losing her sister Celene in 2020 to the religious weight of her upbringing. In "Chemistry," released in February 2025 as the lead-off for her debut album At The Beach, In Every Life, she dives headfirst into a sapphic relationship that is being kept under wraps.
The lyrics mention a "secret life" and a mother who says some things just shouldn't be talked about. If you've followed her work, you know she’s referenced this before. In "Sailor Song," she’s "covered in this favor" while her mom is worried. In "Chemistry," the stakes feel higher. The secrecy isn't just a plot point; it's a character in the song.
Why the "Beast" Imagery Matters
Early in the track, Gigi sings about a beast. It’s "creepin' up" while she’s "sweepin' up." Most fans interpret this as the internalised shame or the "unnatural" labels often thrust upon queer relationships by traditional religious circles. She’s trying to keep things clean—sweeping the floor, keeping the yard—but the beast is there.
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Then comes the "leash" line. She says:
"I have clipped a leash and left it by the tree... and in the yard, you’re keepin’ guard."
This is where the song gets really interesting. It suggests she’s handed over her heaviest burdens to her partner. The partner is now the guardian of her secrets, her past, and her "beast." It’s a terrifying amount of trust. It’s also a bit codependent, which Gigi doesn't shy away from. She admits she feels "stuck" every time they’re "out of touch."
Breaking Down the Bridge: The Deal With the Devil?
If the first half of the song is about the spark, the bridge is about the crash. The instrumentation, which starts as a gentle acoustic thrum, gets more distorted and chaotic as she nears the end.
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She starts talking to a "poor, unfortunate soul."
- Is she talking to herself?
- Is she talking to the "beast"?
- Or is she talking to the lover she’s about to drag down with her?
The line "You got yourself involved with someone you didn't really know" is a classic warning. It flips the "chemistry is rare" narrative on its head. Suddenly, the rare connection isn't a gift; it’s a trap. When she repeats "make a deal with you" over and over, it feels less like a negotiation and more like a descent. Some listeners think she’s making a deal with her own demons to keep the relationship alive, while others see it as a "deal with the devil" to escape the pain of her reality.
The Production Paradox
Gigi produced this herself (with Island Records backing her since late 2024), and you can tell. There’s a specific "bedroom pop" intimacy to it, but it's polished enough to hit the Billboard charts. The way the drums kick in when she sings about "things that I have done" mimics a racing heartbeat. It’s visceral. You don't just hear the chemistry gigi perez lyrics; you feel the anxiety behind them.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Song
A lot of TikTok edits use this song to show "cute" couple moments. Kinda ironic, right? If you actually look at the words, it’s not a straightforward love song. It’s about the burden of being the only person who truly knows someone.
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"I will dig up what you hide," she promises. That’s not a sweet sentiment; it’s an invasive one. It’s the "dark" side of chemistry—the part where two people become so entwined that they lose their individual boundaries. Gigi is capturing that specific, suffocating brand of love that often blossoms in "secret" or "forbidden" contexts.
Key Themes to Watch For:
- Religious Guilt: The "mother" figure and the "secret life" reflect her real-world experience in Christian schooling and her Cuban-American heritage.
- The Persistence of Grief: Even in a song about a new lover, the "things I have done" and the "beast" hint at the lingering shadow of her sister’s passing and her own past mistakes.
- The "Unfortunate Soul" Reference: Whether it’s a nod to The Little Mermaid or just a coincidence, it frames the narrator as someone with a dangerous power.
Practical Insights for Fans and Musicians
If you’re trying to dissect these lyrics for your own writing or just to understand the "Gigi-verse" better, start with her interviews on the Zach Sang Show or Song Exploder. She often mentions that she wrote her early stuff for "survival." You can hear that desperation in "Chemistry."
For those looking to cover the song or analyze its structure:
- Tune your guitar to a standard, slightly warm tone, but don't be afraid to let your fingers slide on the strings. Gigi loves the sound of "effort."
- Focus on the dynamics. The song works because it starts small and ends big. If you sing it at one volume the whole time, you miss the emotional arc of a panic attack turning into a resolution.
- Pay attention to the "Deal" repetition. The way the phrase "make a deal with you" evolves from a whisper to a command is the key to the whole track.
Gigi Perez is clearly setting herself up as the voice of a generation that is tired of "perfect" pop. She’s messy. She’s loud. She’s scared. And that’s exactly why people are listening. "Chemistry" isn't just about the attraction between two people; it's about the volatile reaction that happens when you try to hide the truth for too long.
To get the full experience of her evolution, you should listen to "Normalcy" right after "Chemistry." It bridges the gap between her early independent work and the more expansive sound she’s curated for 2026. Keep an eye on her tour dates—seeing these lyrics performed live, especially the bridge, is reportedly a whole different beast than the studio recording.
Next Steps for Deep Diving into Gigi’s World:
- Listen to the full album At The Beach, In Every Life to see how "Chemistry" fits into the larger narrative of her sister's memory.
- Watch her Jimmy Fallon performance of "Sailor Song" to understand her vocal control and how she translates "bedroom" intimacy to a massive stage.
- Compare the lyrics of "Chemistry" to "Fable" to track how her metaphors for religious trauma have shifted as she’s gained more creative independence.