Why Meli Foster-Turner’s “Wishful thinking” feels so relatable right now
- Paul Riley
- May 1
- 2 min read

Some songs don’t need much explaining because they sit in a very specific emotional space, and you tend to know straight away whether they are for you or not. Meli Foster-Turner’s "Wishful thinking" leans into a mindset a lot of people quietly recognise but don’t always put into words. Chances are, the track will hit home if you recognise yourself in any of the following:
If you’ve ever started doubting something that’s actually going well...
That’s basically the entire emotional space of "Wishful thinking". Nothing has gone wrong, but your brain has already started preparing for it anyway.
If you overthink everything once you realise you care...
There’s a shift that happens when something starts to matter, and this track captures it without making a big deal out of it. The thoughts feel casual on the surface, but there’s a constant undercurrent of second-guessing running through them.
If you like songs that don’t try too hard to impress you...
There’s no big dramatic moment here, no sudden change designed to grab attention. It just unfolds naturally, which ends up being far more engaging. It feels like it trusts the listener to stay with it.
If you notice lyrics that sound like actual thoughts...
The writing doesn’t feel dressed up. It lands because it sounds like something someone would genuinely think but not necessarily say. That honesty carries the whole track.
If you’re into music that sticks without being obvious about it...
This isn’t the kind of song that screams and shouts. It’s the kind that quietly lingers and then shows up in your head later when you’re not expecting it.
If you’re paying attention to what’s next...
Meli Foster-Turner feels like she’s settling into her sound here rather than experimenting for the sake of it. If this is the direction things are heading in, it’s worth keeping an eye on.

If a few of those points above landed a bit too closely, this is definitely your kind of song. Give it a stream below and see:
Via Now Listen



