Review by Abby Kenna
“Known Myself” is an emotive blend of country and modern pop, navigating an introspective tale of love you just can’t run away from. Stella Nicole’s clever lyricism and dynamic arranging amplify this emotion, creating a vivid, tangibly moving song.
“Known Myself” opens with dreamy synth tones fluttering underneath a bright, delicately picked acoustic guitar. The whimsical instrumentals persist as the beat drops, introducing a crisp trap drum pattern that starkly contrasts the warm country sound of the synths and guitar. This fusion of genres allows “Known Myself” to be enjoyed by a wide variety of listeners, as it incorporates a clever motley of musical elements.
Stella Nicole artfully utilizes figurative language throughout “Known Myself”, creating captivating moments of imagery and metaphor to deliver the message of the song. The chorus uses elements of a home - a locked door, key, a book up on a shelf - to embody the way the song’s subject knows her better than anyone else. With illustrative lyricism, Stella Nicole truly translates the song’s message through her words, using these metaphors and figurative language to create a feeling listeners can universally understand:
“Cause you turned a key in a lock I didn’t know I had
Closed the door that I always left out the back
Took the book I keep with my secrets up on the shelf
You know me better than I ever had known myself .”
With catchy repetition, the post-chorus adds another layer of interest to “Known Myself” as the background vocals split across the soundscape, each panned to opposite sides. This widens the track, filling it with even more texture and depth. The layers of harmonies heighten the intensity of “Known Myself”, magnifying the passion of the piece with every added vocal part. It builds into the bridge, where the song reaches a new emotional high:
“You took my barren land,
Made a garden up from the ashes”
“Known Myself” is a dynamic musical melting pot, blending the warmth of country with the catchy rhythms of pop. Stella Nicole writes with poetic language, artfully crafting metaphors and imagery to inevitably touch listeners.
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About Stella Nicole
South Florida-based Country-Pop artist, Stella Nicole, is transforming the country community by creating a captivating blend of modern country and pop with elements of trap beats. Florida native Stella Nicole grew up in Jupiter Florida where she started songwriting at the age of 13. Always wanting to be a singer, Stella joined many choirs, taught herself piano, and picked up the guitar. Thirsting for more, Stella pursued her dream wholeheartedly and craved the ability to produce her music by herself. She then attended Florida Atlantic University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music Technology in 2020. Today, Stella has not only become a well-known local musician, but she is now also a rising producer in the local South Florida scene.
Influenced by artists such as Taylor Swift, Lennon Stella, and John Mayer, Stella captures the best of country twang with a matchless intermingling of pop sound elements. Through alluring bells, fluttering guitars, charming mandolin, and banjo, Stella’s songs captivate the listener into her world. Reflecting on themes of love, Stella gives you raw lyrics that appeal to the most vulnerable of experiences. Well-known for live acoustic performances, Stella radiates authentic passion through her live chemistry. Stella has performed numerous shows and open mics at local South Florida venues such as Dada in Delray Beach and Swampgrass Willy’s in Palm Beach Gardens. She has also been featured on radio stations including ESPN 99.3 Fort Myers, Fox News 92.5, Kix Country Radio 98.7, and National Indie Radio, featured on playlists including Discover Country, The Women of Country, Make Pop Music, and publications including Indie Spoonful, Voyage MIA, and Clouzine Magazine.
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