Hailing from Montana and now based in Liverpool, Bella Wright brings the sound of sunny teenage days over white picket fences to rainy Merseyside, and it’s impossible not to love it.
In her Instagram bio, Bella Wright’s mission statement is clear; her music is a ’90’s coming of age soundtrack’, and her latest single perfectly encapsulates this without sacrificing any sense of relevance or authenticity. ‘Worth the Crime‘ brings together the sounds of 90’s alternative rock and country with subtle grungy undertones to create a track that simultaneously feels fresh and vibrant, yet feels like it belongs on the soundtrack of your favourite feel-good American flick.
Simple crunchy guitar riffs and understated bluesy vocals kick the track off, before the track evolves into deeply infectious, anthemic choruses that are absolutely perfect for blasting out of your car window on a summer drive. The melodies are big and the emotions are bigger, with a real Alanis Morisette or perhaps Avril Lavigne vibe to the whole affair.
Wright’s lyricism is humble and human, painting the perfect song for a break-up, when it would be easy to cave to the urge for revenge but instead you find yourself trying your best to be the bigger person (‘you’re not worth the energy or the time/you’re not worth the crime‘). Wright isn’t trying to present themselves as the perfect person, and that’s what makes the track so relatable; everybody has had to sit down with their desire to get revenge on someone who has wronged you at some point in their life.
On top of that, the song-writing in general is incredibly well executed. Wright’s understanding of how to best use pop hooks, with the ‘hold me back‘ bar in the chorus, is great, especially as the line returns as a gang vocal line in the climax of the track. It’s begging to be played live, and is guaranteed to go down a storm during Wright’s latest tour which is taking her across the American midwest this July with Haiven and Lorrynne.
‘Worth the Crime‘ is, well, worth your time. Bella Wright has created an effortlessly fun and cathartic piece of music that will have you busting out your VHS tapes and popcorn for your favourite coming-of-age movie. Nostalgia has never sounded so fresh.
FOR FANS OF: Alanis Morisette, Avril Lavigne, No Doubt, Liz Phair
Follow Bella Wright on social media via the following links:
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