The first strum in “Stay Away (Hope You’re Ok)” by DULCIE releases all the energetic rock-pop vibes that make its presence known. As drums, guitars, and bass explode off the opener, they provide a perfect bed for vocals that strike a near-perfect balance—gritty yet melodic. This Midlands singer-songwriter had served a track as catchy as it was contemplative, using powerful vocals and feel-good punchy pop instrumentation.
Ever since the “dangerous newcomer” DULCIE first set the sky alight with sparklers flying throughout 2022, she’s shimmered through with her sunlit electro-pop singles “Medicate Me,” “My Body,” and “The Sunglasses Song.” She has now taken yet another big step forward in a whole new era, really going for it on the anthemic “Stay Away (Hope You’re Ok).”.
Drawing inspiration from across a wide array of artists, DULCIE exudes good vibes in her music and teems with irresistibly catchy melodies. Pulling inspiration from pop icons of today, like Dua Lipa, to the nostalgic legends of pop-rock, including Avril Lavigne and No Doubt, the result feels both familiar yet innovative. A fresh cross-genre sound.
A track that pays homage to the Y2K soundtracks of DULCIE’s youth, “Stay Away (Hope You’re Ok)” channels a nostalgic form of pop-rock greatness into something that feels—not today, really—more somewhere between an Olivia Rodrigo angst track and a Pale Waves moment of darkness. It reflects the confusing nature of break-ups and the annoying feeling you get when you care so much for someone who doesn’t do good for you anymore. DULCIE comes across with a mix of playfulness and poignancy, making this song easy to relate to in its compelling ways.
The vibrancy in the song and the reflective lyrics set it up as just about one of the best anthems for those who ever enjoy the ups and downs of relationships. Strong, powerful vocals from DULCIE soar over the dynamic instrumentation, singing with emotion yet in a really catchy kind of inflection. You will not be able to get this chorus out of your head and you absolutely find yourself singing along; maybe even dancing out all your frustrations.
DULCIE’s fearlessness in songwriting gives “Stay Away (Hope You’re Ok)” an experience that will make you feel, think, and more important of all—enjoy the ride. So turn up the volume, let the music take over, and get ready to be hooked by the undeniable talent of DULCIE.
You can find more of DULCIE at:
You can listen to ‘Stay Away (Hope You’re Ok)’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.