Last time we wrote about Los Angeles-based sensation Katie Belle, we spent some triumphant words for her musical endeavour, celebrating Belle as “a natural talent, a gifted songwriter and singer with an incredible pulse for what makes good pop music.” At the time, we were listening to ‘Bad Dreams’ while teasing a forthcoming EP. Well, the EP has now been released, allowing us to reckon with Katie’s heightened mainstream artistry and lyrical genius. Collecting past singles and new offerings, ‘People Pleaser’ also carries a very strong title track, expertly produced by Fabio Campedelli.
Moving with brooding allure and introspective energy, ‘People Pleaser’ stands out for its songwriting honesty and its highly relatable storytelling, all framed into bold contemporary pop tones and the sort of quiet intensity that’s very common in the global pop landscape nowadays. Belle’s vocals are the cherry on the cake, here moving with vulnerability, but also embodying incredible confidence. The listening experience is rather intimate, with an overwhelming feeling of witnessing someone’s personal, emotional confession.
Aptly titled, ‘People Please’ narrates the painful yet necessary process of breaking free from external validation. In that sense, we suspect that a large number of listeners will relate deeply to the song. As Belle sings: “No more / People pleaser / Sweet demeanor / I’m gonna save me all for myself.” As she should: it’s time for Katie to bloom into the global popstar she’s destined to be.
Recommended! Discover ‘People Pleaser’ now: