UMI Somehow Makes Going Back to "High School" Sound Amazing

image

Depending on who you ask, letterman jacket wearing or not, high school was either the best of times or it was the worst of times. Charles Dickens references aside, lo-fi R&B songstress UMI has shared a new single that has us thinking it would not be the worst thing in the world to still be running from cops at a crowded house party.

"High School" sees the Los Angeles by way of Seattle artist reminiscing over infectious, bubbling production. More than just a weird flex on the glory days, UMI paints  an all-too-familiar picture of what it's really like to be in high school. In "High School," the biggest highlights and embarrassments lie not in grandiose expectations typically associated with high school but in going to Denny's after school and having your parents drive you to dates. The nostalgic portrayal is perfectly at home alongside UMI's wistful vocals that hint at lost love, in spite of not evening know what love was at the time.

The breezy new single is accompanied by a music video, which, as any proper representation of high school must depict, primarily takes place at a high school house party. Directed by Eddie Mandell and Not Cade, "High School" takes UMI back to the days of being an awkward underclassman. From UMI singing into her hairbrush and being goaded into talking to her crush, the music video is a pure delight. But it's not the cops breaking up the party before it gets to the good part that rings the truest of "High School." It is its final comical line, "Bruh, we were just in high school."

Watch the video for "High School" below:  

Related Articles

BOY SODA Dives Deeper Into SOULSTAR With His Deluxe Edition [Q&A]

BOY SODA Dives Deeper Into SOULSTAR With His Deluxe Edition [Q&A]

September 30, 2026 Fresh off some international travels, we were very blessed to have this soulful star in our studio to catch up on being deluxe, lifestyle and best venue size for a man of his talents:
Author: DJ Connor
pop
R&B
corook x Whale Songz On the Art Of Following The Fun [Q&A]

corook x Whale Songz On the Art Of Following The Fun [Q&A]

September 28, 2026 For our 11-year anniversary, we asked OnesToWatch alumni to nominate the next wave of artists on the rise. Beloved Pittsburgh singer-songwriter corook chose Whale Songz—the musical duo of Olivia Barton and Annika Bennett.
Author: Ariana Tibi
pop
Maria Fuell Is Bringing the Sounds of the Andes to a New Generation [Q&A]

Maria Fuell Is Bringing the Sounds of the Andes to a New Generation [Q&A]

September 28, 2026 OnesToWatch chatted with Fuell to talk about her music, her roots, and her accomplishments in her career thus far.
Author: Sarah Ruiz
pop