Katie Belle of Atlanta comes back with the single ‘Cigarette’ — a track that smolders with raw emotion and sophisticated, pop craftsmanship. Her second release is another step forward, laying down a track that is both intimate and expansive, all that and powered by an infectious hook with LA producer Fabio Campedelli.
With its first breathy notes ‘Cigarette’ lulls the listener into a foggy haze of sultry nostalgia. The undeniable centerpiece, as always, is Belle’s vocals which are why she’s gotten notice. She sings with an arresting intimacy, like it’s confessional, like she’s singing directly to you in a dimly lit room. Unforgettable emotional core lies beneath the smooth surface, a fragile vulnerability with a raw honesty. It’s not just the bittersweet reflections on past romances you hear, but the bittersweet reflections on past romances you feel.
Belle’s voice has glistening counterpart in Campedelli’s production. It’s contemporary pop sheen seamlessly straddling decades with subtle warm retro flourishes. And despite all those florid, overblown lines the nostalgic undertow isn’t mere pastiche: It enriches the song’s thematic center of relationships that seem to have long since burned out, yet that still can’t help but occasionally rekindle those unexpected embers of feeling. It’s sleek and polished (and mixer Lukas Cuman and mastering engineer Sanjeeve Easwar have helped keep it so), but it never sounds sterile. It’s a late night contemplative soundscape or drive through city lights kind of thing.
“Cigarette” is well balanced. But the delivery and the production of this theme, the melancholic ache of reminiscence, do this with a certain sophistication and allure. It doesn’t dwell on the whole thing, it shows the complex beauty and pain that comes with having memories come up to the surface. Working together since their earlier collabos like ‘Next Ex’, this track solidifies Belle and Campedelli’s potent creative partnership.It demonstrates how far Belle’s vocal and songwriting capabilities have progressed since her debut, nailing the art of turning intensely private reflections elixirs into crowd pleasing pop moments.
‘Cigarette’ is both, more than just a catchy tune: it’s a mood, it’s an atmosphere. At her most compelling, it’s Katie Belle: vulnerable, evocative and creating indie pop with a real emotional weight and undeniable sonic appeal. This single is bound to leave a distinct afterglow and an anticipation on her upcoming “People Pleaser” EP which is sure to be as great as all her other projects.
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