There’s a fresh new voice emanating from the gut of New York’s underground pop scene, and she’s here to shine. Stella Nesci’s latest single, “In Love Me” is a glitter-slicked, emotionally-charged rager about how self-possession comes at a cost and she’s paid in full, with zeal.
Soaked in early 2000s memories yet honed with a present edge, “In Love Me” is the sound of a song written by a teenager for a teenage mixtape, complete with rhinestones, flip phones, and feelings too intense to process. Nesci leans into the sounds of her youth reverently but unapologetically filters them through her sensibilities. The result? A catchy song that speaks for itself. “In Love Me” delves into the complicated bite of jealousy, not of the you-feel-it kind, but of the you-get-it kind. Nesci doesn’t pull any punches, singing of silent competition and sideways glances that accompany a concerted effort to stand out in a world still learning to welcome confident, creative women. It’s a confrontation, all right, but a party, too.
She serves up a crisp, emotionally textured bop that reverberates with the vibes of her inspirations, Tate McRae and Halsey, yet remains unmistakably her own. Stella’s delivery is direct and refined. She spins openness into power with every chorus. The production froths with synth-heavy drama and Y2K gloss, but it’s her voice and the tale behind it that cut right through. You can also taste the bite, as well as the beauty.