header image: an echowave visual
words: echowave hq
you know what time it is!
five months have gone by in the blink of an eye. and so, five incredible new tracks, which dropped in june, have now been tasked with ushering in the half-point of the year; as fate would have it, this month’s soundwave spotlight might just be our fieriest one yet. no pun intended. whereas its predecessor offered a catchy blend of much-needed, frustration-induced catharsis and dealing with the neverending ‘what ifs’, the selected songs this time around promise a thoughtful collection of singles that not only defy the angst, but also find room to turn that particular feeling into a starting point for uncharted discoveries.
we caught up with the featured artists to ask them a few rapid-fire questions about their new releases… so, what are you waiting for? scroll down to read more.
RENA — nobody
kicking off the round-up is a swayful, delicately pensive anthem for those brave enough to immerse themselves in everlasting yearning; a stunning comeback single from london-based visionary rena, ‘nobody’ depicts a star-crossed encounter in which desire quickly grows parallel to longing. “tell me what you’ll do if i go / am i your wish? / i don’t want to see you with someone else,” she opens up as the song nears towards its final moments, setting the stage for an outro that not only draws you in, but also keeps you hitting replay as soon as the song’s three minute playtime is through. it’s an addictive follow-up to rena’s 2025 offering ‘so done’ as well as a stellar foundation to her emerging musical legacy. below, she reveals the inspiration behind the track.
what inspired the track?
rena: The song was inspired by the feeling of becoming infatuated with someone after seeing them for the first time and getting caught up in profound emotions. ‘nobody’ was co-written with my sister, Orlaith, and we worked closely on the track together.
When I first heard the beat, I instantly had a vision for the song to be about seeing someone you find attractive for the first time, but knowing deep down you probably won’t see them again, so you let your imagination take over. My sister and I both had the same vision, and from there we started writing the song.
if you could perform it anywhere in the world, where would it be?
rena: The 3Arena in Dublin. Growing up in Ireland, I’ve always dreamed of performing my music live in my home country. It would be an incredible feeling to share a song like ‘nobody’ with a crowd there and have everyone singing it back.
what can your listeners expect next?
rena: Lots more mood-driven and heartfelt music. I’m really excited for the coming months. I’ve spent the past few years developing my sound, songwriting and artistic direction, and I’m looking forward to sharing more of that journey through future releases.
ANGÈLiO — cam boy
slinky, shimmery, and – to be frank – undoubtedly sexy. angèlio returns with a summery, mid-noughties r&b inspired production, which is elevated by a daring vocal performance that spotlights the musician as a star on the rise – or, in his own words, “the popstar you didn’t know you needed.” his new single, ‘cam boy’, sounds like a cinematic take on those hot summer nights spent in the presence of a loved one; and, in this scenario, it doesn’t matter whether the person is a longterm flame or a temporary fling – angèlio’s sultry track is a reminder that passion is sometimes all you need in life. scroll down for some juicy insight as he breaks down the song’s deeply intimate lyrics.
what inspired the track?
ANGÈLiO: it’s about making a sex tape with someone off first meet. the track came together in a different way than my usual process! i was writing lots of slower and sadder songs at the time and was getting sick of sulking. when i heard the beat it was in a different key and didn’t sound right but i just kept saying “gotta put me on camera” and i then thought, “wouldn’t it be cool to write this about wanting to make a sex tape with this person.” it sounded raunchy and fun. and i wanted to paint myself as a cam boy for this one person – “in this moment im your star” kinda vibe. i had the chorus for about two months until i circled back when i decided i wanted to release something fun before starting this next era. it was a process!
do you have a fave lyric?
ANGÈLiO: “body’s calling out your name it’s getting critical / be your star 5/5 / be your boy on film, just let me your visual.” when i wrote this section, i liked the cheekiness of it all and felt like it was super fun. and it led into the 2nd pre chorus so well it made me excited.
what can your listeners expect next?
ANGÈLiO: MY DEBUT PROJECT SIMPATICO IS COMING OUT LATER THIS YEAR, GET READY FOR ANGÈLIO WORLD DOMINATION!
stupid lucky — baby teeth
a grungy addition to this month’s soundwave spotlight, stupid lucky’s latest offering ‘baby teeth’ simply rolls with the punches. lead singer taylor pearlstein’s gritty vocals soar alongside the track’s high-octane melodies – à la paramore – allowing the track to stick the landing from the very second its punchy drums and wailing electric guitar work in tandem to kick things off with a bang. “You sent a picture of us to your mom / Then you ruined all of my favorite songs,” pearlstein sings in the chorus, utilising an emotionally-charged backdrop to elevate the lyrically commanding build-up, which draws inspiration from an all-consuming situationship that she describes as “torturing.”
what inspired the track?
stupid lucky: Classically, losing my mind over a confusing situationship. I was so hard on myself for being a mess; like I was too grown to be anything less than completely put-together. It wasn’t this person or situation that was torturing me; I was torturing myself with shame. Writing this song is how I started allowing myself to be angry and embarrassed out loud. It’s a practice, embracing embarrassment. What is really so wrong about having an emotional experience? And how else are we supposed to evolve? ‘baby teeth’ is looking back and smiling at the carnage.
do you have a fave lyric?
stupid lucky: My favorite line is in the prechorus: “I am all my pulled punches / Now I’m putting my fist through a wall.”
If you swallow your words and bottle your feelings, that energy is still going to end up somewhere. Stand up for yourself or hurt yourself, your choice.
what can your listeners expect next?
stupid lucky: The ‘baby teeth’ music video! It’s coming out in July. And our third single ‘bedlam’ is coming late this summer. We’re working toward an EP. All of these songs are about escaping a dissociated life and fumbling toward what I truly want. We’re just getting started, stay close.
pamela bravo — still friends
to call this track groovy would be an absolute understatement. not just a piece of art that soothes, it also simultaneously heads towards some much-needed reflection on love, heartache, and the space in-between. a collaborative effort with jerhell, who recites his melodic rap verse over a catchy production, ‘still friends’ finds la-based storyteller pamela bravo in the process of trying to build a friendship with a past relationship as its foundation; something that feels extremely familiar yet risky all the while – and, naturally, doing so brings its own set of hurdles. bravo’s voice, resonant and glamorously mellifluous, flows like a river, allowing her penmanship to take centre stage. letting us in on a deeply personal story of hers, bravo reveals the inspiration behind the track below.
what inspired the track?
pamela bravo: ‘Still Friends’ was inspired by a real life experience! I wrote this song almost three years ago, after me and a past partner of mine tried being friends after we broke up. It was really hard because the love was still there. I realized they started to become more distant, and we weren’t talking as much anymore. In my head, I knew they moved on because they didn’t answer my calls anymore and I was left on seen. I was hoping they were going to communicate to me that our friendship was over but I never got that answer. So, I decided to express how sad I felt in this song… I think this song reminds me that it’s okay if you don’t ever get an answer or reassurance. Because that doesn’t change anything that has happened, you have to be willing to accept the circumstances on your own no matter what. This song is also a reminder to dance it out when you’re feeling down that’s why it has more of an upbeat vibe to it.
do you have a fave lyric?
pamela bravo: Yes! My favorite lyric is “it’s okay, I know we’re grown / and life gets so busy, / if you don’t pick up the phone / please don’t feel so guilty.” It’s funny because I wrote that lyric for myself because I am known for not picking up the phone – I’m doing better now! But I know sometimes I don’t have the mental capacity to answer a call because, at times, I see it as a task. Especially when you’re an artist working your 9 to 5 and turning your dreams into a reality. Also, it’s okay if you don’t wanna do certain things, give yourself grace and be kind to yourself!
If you had to describe the track in three colors, what would the palette look like?
pamela bravo: I love this question! It would be Cerulean – a rich, soft, and clear blue like the sky over the ocean; Sunset orange because it’s vibrant, warm and it brings joy; Lavender because it feels healing, calming, and has this purity emotion.
lorg — hall of your heart
now this one’s a tad bit different – somewhat dystopian, even. sonically modest yet never dull, ‘hall of your heart’ layers singer-songwriter lorg’s dreamy vocal performance over a warped, dissonant sequence of beats, akin to distant memories that return to you in isolated fragments. the single contains qualities of utter wistfulness, which feel even more imminent as it flows into its fairly defined second act – “there’s nowhere to stay / in this hall of your heart,” lorg indulges in the act of reminiscence once the halfway point has been crossed. a delightfully ethereal taster from their forthcoming debut solo album i fell for fantasy – slated for release on the 19th of august – ‘hall of your heart’ lays the groundwork for a body-of-work that’s equal parts residual and furthering. keep reading for more information on that.
do you have a fave lyric?
lorg: I felt pretty sassy singing: “and it hurts sometimes, / but my tears always dry.”
if you could perform it anywhere in the world, where would it be?
lorg: There are a lot of cities I’d rather be in, and a lot of festivals I’d love to play but, for this song, what’s coming to mind is this castle in Versailles, KY.
I’d go to Kentucky to see family during summers and Christmases, and we’d always drive past this castle at least once. The way the story was told to me was that a guy built it for his wife who died, or who’d left him, and the castle remained unfinished. That’s poetry! Jax and Brittany from Vanderpump Rules were married there.
what can your listeners expect next?
lorg: We’re probably past scrutinizing artists’ usage of auto-tune, but sometimes I feel a fear of judgement. I know I’ve championed a lot of auto-tune on these recent singles but I will be releasing some tracks with dry vocals, too.
I love getting my vocal ideas out with auto-tune on so I can really swing for the fences, and sometimes I just leave it in because it fits the song.
