New Music Review - ‘To Be Like You’ by Amber Carly Williams

To Be Like You is the latest release from Christchurch based singer-songwriter, Amber Carly Williams, released on the 19th of September 2025. Cover artwork provided: Amber’s EPK

Amber Carly Williams has quietly walked back into the scene with her emotionally charged new single, To Be Like You, released at midnight last night.

To Be Like You sees Amber putting her pen to paper, incessantly writing out lyrics that will shift your mindset in your own world as Amber shares how she has had to mentally adapt to her Dad’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and turned it into this melodic-filled understanding of hope, grief and vulnerability, all in one.

Instead of completely running away when the diagnosis came, Amber stepped back slightly but still chose to sing soulfully about her care for her Dad and has ensured that she holds him close, despite the challenges and being afraid of the journey ahead.

Amber and her Dad’s relationship is special - from the stories she has shared on social media about him, and him being the very proud parent at her live performances shows a bond that cannot be broken, even in the face of adversity.

Grief is a highly complex matter, and it adds in even more layers of hardships when you’re coming to terms with it while the person is still living, yet parts of them have gone, or they have forgotten important memories and moments because of a disease that is beyond their control.

Amber speaks eloquently about the impacts that this has had on her and her Dad’s lives in such a respectful, gentle manner that shows maturity and grace throughout the entirety of To Be Like You.

With flecks of Lizzy McAlpine and Holly Humberstone inspiration, guitar work that is undeniably exquisite and vocalisation that fills you with pure emotion, Amber tuned into every part of herself to bring To Be Like You to fruition.

While Amber is able to reflect on this situation, she makes sure to guard herself at the same time, with lyrics such as “but I want to be like you, I know you’re not perfect, but it’s likely that I might be. That scares me sometimes…” and “I feel bad to step away, they’re not you, and it’s nice for a change…” two lines that really puncture your heart.

The acoustic, raw sound of the track turns the energy into something more than just a song that holds extreme depth, it has meaning and so much more to it than a review can describe; just hearing the song is enough to help you understand what’s happening without being there, something Amber effortlessly achieves within her songwriting, past and present.

While To Be Like You is filled with vulnerability, Amber chooses to open the door to that side of her family’s world as though her listeners are the best of friends to her. To be let into that space drives up an element of trust, understanding and non-judgement, something that Amber has, over time, allowed her audience to be let into through her music and her stories.

It’s real, it’s fragile, yet it is encompassed so beautifully into To Be Like You that it strips down every other issue and makes it seem light in comparison to what Amber and her family have gone through. Time stands still while listening to To Be Like You, and I hope that when you listen to the track, that time also ceases to exist for you, as well.

For more Amber, make sure that you check out all of her links below -

Spotify
Bandcamp
Instagram
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YouTube
Website
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