Stephanie Poetri's songs wash over you with the nostalgia of a million moments, and others make you want to fall in love the first time all over again. "I Love You 3000" accomplishes both. The Jakarta-born singer-songwriter has written a dreamy, melancholy love song that is as intimate as a handwritten letter but as universal as a classic rom-com confession.
A play on the now iconic Avengers Endgame line, Poetri uses a pop culture moment as the foundation of a swoon-fueled hook that begs to be more than just fandom. Draped over a gently acoustic instrumental, her ethereal vocals describe a love so pure and earnest that it veers into the cinematic. "I Love You 3000" is simple but intentional; there is no overproduction or forced dramatics, just Poetri's effortlessly sweet voice reciting lyrics that could soften even the most hardened heart.
It's her storytelling that is the talent behind I Love You 3000. Poetri doesn't just write love songs; she conveys the euphoric, butterflies-in-your-stomach sensation of falling hard for someone. "Baby, take my hand. I want you to be my husband," she coos, subverting conventional love song tropes in a manner that feels both refreshingly modern and properly romantic.
And the world is starting to pay attention. The song is already going viral, positioning the Indonesia-born musician Poetri as the latest breakout from 88rising's ever-expanding roster. But don't get it twisted. She's in for the long game. I Love You 3000 isn't just a viral moment. It proves Poetri's talent for creating songs that feel like home.
By the time the song rushes to its peak, with guitar strums swinging and the colorful layers on the vocal output caressing the delicate threshold between innocence and turmoiled intimacy, you'll realize Stephanie Poetri is a name to watch in the ever-blanketing indie-pop underground. She's a storyteller, a dreamer, and a soft romantic beneath the glimmering sheen. And we're all ears.