Being “too much” can be exhausting. Too loud, too jealous, too emotional, too noticeable-the list of other people’s grievances is longer than the coffee line in Los Angeles. But Piper Connolly seems to have decided to no longer cut herself down to a comfortable size. And rightly so: who even needs another perfectly edited person anyway?
In her new single “unapologetic,” the indie-pop artist turns up the guitars louder and leaves the listener with a cheeky thesis: yes, I am like this. No, I am not sorry. After the sweet-punk “beautiful life” and “body bag,” Piper speeds up ahead of the release of her EP “she’s too much!,” which will appear on September 25. The previous singles were energetic flashes, whereas “unapologetic” is a full-fledged statement written in bold font, with an exclamation mark, and without the usual postscript “hope I didn’t offend anyone.” “unapologetic” is assembled from everything that works well in audacious alt-pop: guitar riffs, bouncy bass, a rhythm that pushes your shoulders to move, and vocals with the right amount of a defiant tone. It sounds fast, confident, and with the facial expression that appears when someone once again advises you to “be simpler.” In response, you just want to turn up the volume. The main line of the song is its nerve and its punchline: “No, I’m not sorry, I’m unapologetic / I won’t change it, don’t regret it / So keep it, keep a possessive… You don’t get it, so baby please don’t sweat it…“
Piper’s heroine claims: she can be reckless, jealous, emotional, and, yes, at times unbearable. But instead of pop-repentance, a different perspective switches on here: why, actually, should the complexity of character be a reason to vanish? “unapologetic” says: you can know all your weak spots and not let those around you turn them into a reason for shame.
“unapologetic” has everything to get stuck in your head: a catchy chorus, drive, mood, and a phrase you want to send to a group chat after another unnecessary excuse. But what is more important: beneath its bright shell, you can hear the voice of an artist making peace with herself.
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