With over 550k+ monthly listeners on Spotify and an impressive discography already, 21-year-old Texan musician colby! is leaning into her darker, passive-aggressive side while playing in the arena of influences from M.I.A., dark pop, and punk elements. For being so young, she strikes a deep and resonant nerve with the wisdom that comes from unabashedly pushing past the hateful influences that can sprout closer to home than we’d like.
Sound familiar? You’ve been ready and waiting for this one: “Machine” by colby! is out and holds nothing back.
Despite those who have such a strange and jealous perspective to project on her as a person and growing musician, colby! transmutes the hateful energy into a song that showcases her stylistic range. Known for her influences from Gwen Stefani to Amy Winehouse, there are elements of Melanie Martinez and Halsey injected into the rock-forward empowerment anthem that is “Machine.” Lyrically, she leans on the cold, hard truths that swing right back in their own right without losing her grounded and sharp self-awareness of the confidence she’s hard-earned despite the bitter little twerps gnashing at her successes and talents.
“This is an empowerment song, but it’s about something really specific. When people see you growing, they want to hate on you. Then when they see you achieve what you’ve tried so hard for, suddenly they want to come back into your life.” – colby! on her latest track, “Machine”
For 21-year-old colby!, writing songs is easily second nature. The pacing of the attitude behind the song is well matched with the impressively tricky drums that still manage not to be overstated. Swells of textural synths with driven guitars create a raw edge to a track with a sort of augmented darkness fit for her personal stylistic mix. When it comes to acting on her authentic experiences and voice, colby! is able to tap into the creative compartments of herself to so fiercely express her response without losing her poise or stooping to sloppy lows. “Machine” is a peek into many things a la colby!, namely her musical range in genre and emotive performance and the psyche behind an artist that won’t let the bitterness of others stunt her impressive growth as a person and creative.
Having been named an artist to watch by Fault and Galore, colby! has also been spotlighted by Atwood, Clout, Ladygunn, Ones to Watch, and many more (and for good reason). Lyrically, this track pulls no punches while keeping its grip strength rooted in holding firm to who she chooses to be in the face of jealousy aimed at her:
“Reading signs
Going ninety headed to your mind
You like to make pretty girls cry
You’re just petty, you’re not their type
They cut ties
Tell me
The pathetic reasons why you love me
Remember when I was only 16
You’d pull me aside and say I was nothing
I think that’s something”
If you like what you’ve heard with “Machine” or other music that colby! has released this year, you can keep up with colby! on Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.
Written by Samson Winsor
The post An empowering song with dark pop bite, colby! drops “Machine” appeared first on ROCK THE PIGEON.
