New Zealand–born artist Estella Dawn returns with a stunning new single, “Conversations”, a stripped-back piano ballad that captures the moment you reclaim your self-worth after a relationship that left you unheard.
Rather than following a predictable pop formula, the song unfolds like an intimate confession — a letter to yourself after realizing you’ve been giving more than you’re receiving. Her vocal delivery is raw and deliberate, floating over minimalist piano chords that build just enough tension to carry her words straight to the gut.
Dawn writes with the honesty of someone who’s lived every lyric. She sings,
“Words speak loud but I need more than that / I got patience but I won’t be second best / I want respect, is that too much to ask / It’s a conversation we shouldn’t need to have.”
Each line lands with the quiet strength of someone finally setting a boundary — a moment of self-reclamation that feels both personal and universal.
Talking about the inspiration, Estella explains:
“It’s about the frustration of having to ask for respect, affection, and commitment. They give you just enough to feel like they might be capable of more, but their actions don’t line up. Writing it was my way of holding a mirror up to that dynamic and admitting I couldn’t keep settling for half-measures.”
Now based in San Diego, Estella Dawn continues to carve her own lane as an independent powerhouse — writing, producing, and performing her music with total creative control. Since her 2018 debut, she’s accumulated over 7 million streams and built a global fanbase drawn to her emotional honesty and fearless songwriting.
“Conversations” would feel right at home on Spotify’s New Music Friday, Women of Acoustic, or Sad Hour playlists — where heartfelt songwriting and soul-bearing vocals thrive. It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you in the middle of a long drive, quiet night, or the moment you realize you’ve finally moved on.
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Oklahoma-bred dream pop duo Sports, the long-lasting creative partnership of Christian Theriot and Cale Chronister, return with their new single “Keep Falling In Love”, a glowing meditation on how affection deepens, shifts, and blooms over time while still holding onto that first spark.
The track feels like it was written for the quiet hours — that gentle period between sunset and sleep where love feels most real. Sports craft their signature haze of psychedelic warmth and delicate pop melody, pulling you into a soft-focus world that’s equal parts nostalgic and new. The production moves like sunlight through sheer curtains, with synths and vocals melting into one another until you can’t tell where dream ends and devotion begins.
It’s a track that would sit beautifully beside songs on playlists like Indie Pop Chillout, Fresh Finds Indie, or Feel-Good Indie. “Keep Falling In Love” isn’t built for a single listen — it’s designed to linger, like the memory of a late-night conversation or the smell of someone’s sweater after they’ve gone home.
Throughout their catalog, Sports have maintained an immersive sound that straddles the line between retro textures and forward-thinking pop. On this track, that balance feels even more intimate and assured. They don’t just celebrate love — they examine it, observing how it evolves, retracts, and renews itself. The emotion is genuine, and the delivery is effortless.
“Keep Falling In Love” ultimately reminds us that love isn’t static — it’s a living force, one that keeps asking us to show up, stay curious, and keep feeling. It’s another reason why the world of Sports remains so easy to fall into — and so hard to leave.
🎧 Listen to “Keep Falling In Love” on Spotify
📸 Follow Sports on Instagram
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CATBEAR make a triumphant return with their new single “It’s Okay”, a radiant blast of electro bedroom pop that glows with self-acceptance, emotional candor, and late-night intimacy. Written, recorded, and produced by Zoe Konez, the track is the final single before the release of the duo’s forthcoming album For Now, For Ever, due out October 24, 2025.
“It’s Okay” serves as a transitional track, both musically and personally,about stepping into the light to claim your truth. Konez’s production blends shimmering synths, crisp percussion, and atmospheric tones that feel euphoric yet grounded. The result is a song that captures both strength and vulnerability, the kind of catharsis that builds slowly before bursting into full bloom.
This is a song for anyone who’s navigated questions of identity, belonging, or self-compassion later in life. It’s reflective, heartwarming, and deeply human — the sonic equivalent of a reassuring hug in the dark. It would sit comfortably on Spotify playlists like Pop Rising, Fresh Finds Pop, or Indie Pop Chillout.
The conversations that inspired “It’s Okay” reflect real-life experiences of queer identity and learning to feel comfortable in your own skin — no matter your age. The song carries the message that there is no expiration date on self-discovery or visibility. Growth is continuous, and embracing yourself is a lifelong journey.
Beyond the single, CATBEAR are entering their boldest era yet. Their upcoming album For Now, For Ever will be released on vinyl, CD, and cassette — the duo’s first physical formats, underscoring their commitment to independence, creativity, and community.
With “It’s Okay,” CATBEAR deliver a message of love, pride, and survival — wrapped in glowing synths and dreamlike production. In their electro-pop world, we’re reminded that it’s okay to grow, to breathe, and to fully exist as who we are.
🎧 Listen to “It’s Okay” on Spotify
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Alyssa Caroline steps into new creative territory with “Fire To Ash,” a striking blend of shadowy late-night pop, textured synths, and honest storytelling. The track marks a bold evolution from her earlier sound, channeling the emotional depth of Taylor Swift, the sleek confidence of Dua Lipa, and the experimental edge of Imogen Heap.
It’s a raw yet empowering exploration of toxic patterns and self-reclamation, a sound that belongs on playlists like Pop Rising, Fresh Finds Pop, and Indie Pop Chillout.
We caught up with Alyssa to talk about her new single, creative growth, and what comes next.
“When I was writing music for the first time with a producer post-COVID, I was in a place in my life where I wanted to try a new vibe, and I’ve always been drawn to darker, moodier sounds. Fire to Ash let me really lean into that and it felt like the right time to experiment and explore that kind of sound. I have a few unreleased songs that are in that same vein, and I’m so excited to release them.”
Estella Dawn bares her soul on her newest single, “Drunk & Messy” — a slow-burning, emotional confession that feels like a midnight phone call you shouldn’t make but can’t resist.
The track finds Dawn tangled in longing for a love she knows is toxic but unforgettable. With vulnerable, biting lyrics and powerhouse vocals, she paints the portrait of someone torn between self-awareness and desire — knowing better, but still wanting one more night. It’s the kind of late-night heartbreak anthem that would feel right at home on playlists like Sad Girl Starter Pack, Pop Rising, Chill Pop, and Heartbreak Pop.
Her voice shifts between softness and intensity, echoing the duality of the relationship she describes — intoxicating yet damaging, tender yet bruised. “Drunk & Messy” captures the messy aftermath of love’s withdrawal: that space between letting go and wanting to fall again.
At one point, Dawn delivers one of the song’s most vulnerable lines, confessing that she wants to “lose [herself] in [her ex-partner] / until [she forgets herself].” It’s a lyric that perfectly encapsulates the song’s emotional tug-of-war — surrendering to the very thing you know will hurt you.
Originally from New Zealand and now based in San Diego, Estella Dawn is more than a singer-songwriter — she’s also a producer and multi-instrumentalist, shaping every layer of her sound with precision and heart. Blending elements of pop, rock, and soul, she’s crafted a growing discography that includes standout tracks like “514 Denim,” “Julian,” and stunning covers of The 1975’s “Somebody Else” and Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black.”
With “Drunk & Messy,” Estella Dawn cements herself as one of pop’s most emotionally honest new voices — the kind of artist who turns heartbreak into something cinematic and timeless.
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