Mystee discovers beauty in the heart's bruises in "Sore"

Fort Collins psych-rockers Mystee recently shared "Sore," a track that carries the weight of a memory half-healed, painful, rough, yet unshakeable in its existence. Led by songwriter Ilana Held, Mystee weaves the delicate closeness of femme pop through the grit and urgency of rock and roll, arriving at a sound that they affectionately call "nostalgic indie rock."

The brainchild of songwriter Ilana Held, voice bridges the gap between tenderness and defiance, as he weaves heartbreak into being that's practically cinematic. It's the sort of song that doesn't just tell a narrative, but that drags you inside its pulse, bidding you to feel every last word, every ache. There's a muted, dreamlike thing going on that nods to Soccer Mommy's dreamily fuzzy textures, plus the candid bite of Palehound, but Mystee isn't going to settle for living in anyone's shadow. Instead, they stake out a sonic space that is as vulnerable as it is electric.

The basslines of Keaton Nalezny's groove with soft confidence and ground the song in warmth. Joey Holmes's shoegazey guitar stretches the track's side, glittering like headlights on a rain-slick street. And Josh Carroll's drumming provides a heartbeat that seems agitated, albeit healthy, propelling the song without disturbing its careful equilibrium.

What most resonates about "Sore" is that it doesn't put heartbreak in fancy clothes; it allows wounds to breathe, to sting. Mystee turns personal pain into collective catharsis, showing that sometimes the most powerful rock 'n' roll songs aren't the loudest but they're the truest. With "sore," Mystee isn't merely announcing herself, but they're staking a pole. It's one of these songs you can't shake even in our bruises, it says, there's beauty we can sing about.

Follow Mystee on: Instagram | Facebook