Atwood Magazine is thrilled to unveil our Editor’s Picks column, curated and written by Editor-in-Chief Mitch Mosk. Each week, Mitch will present a selection of songs, albums, and artists that have resonated with him. There is an abundance of amazing music out there, waiting to be discovered, and all it needs is our open-mindedness and desire to listen. Through our Editor’s Picks, we aim to highlight our own music findings and present a varied selection of new and recent releases.
This week's selections include Stela Cole, Breagh Isabel, Debbii Dawson, aleksiah, Royel Otis, and Benson Boone!
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“Stereoqueen" by Stela Cole
Nothing compares to that first night out after a breakup—the liberation, the excitement, the pain that still lingers. Stela Cole channels that emotional whirlwind into electrifying energy with "Stereoqueen," a captivating disco-pop hit from her debut album *I Die Where You Begin* (released independently on April 18th via her Stelavision Records). Sparkling guitars and glamorous harmonies radiate intensity as Cole reclaims her strength on the dance floor, her voice a blaze of passion and power. "Don't try talkin' to me / Tonight I’m gonna be the stereo queen," she declares with confidence, every note infused with determination and self-assurance.
Cole describes the song as capturing "the first night out after a breakup, and what rediscovering your sense of self can feel like." She continues, “It’s exciting, upbeat, and fun, while also reflecting on the past and the nerves that come with being newly single and confronting the world alone… whether the person was good for you or not.” This tension gives "Stereoqueen" its emotional punch—an audacious, fiery anthem that dances through memories and into a bold, unwavering present.
Cole refers to this moment as the "empowering phase" in the album’s narrative—a time when one finally departs from someone who has caused harm and self-worth surges back, describing it as, “You feel unstoppable.” She explains that "Being a Stereoqueen means being strong and liberating yourself,” and that it embodies the wild night out with friends, dancing to classics, and shedding the burdens of the past, emphasizing her journey of reclaiming independence after a challenging breakup. There’s both grit and vulnerability in the song’s bridge: “You might f* with me tomorrow, but tonight I’m in my feels.”
"Stereoqueen" is an intoxicating and passionate anthem—a nostalgic fever dream that still feels refreshingly current—and a pivotal moment on an album filled with emotional depth. As Cole puts it, *I Die Where You Begin* is her "home base as an artist," and tracks like this remind us just how thrilling a foundation built on freedom, authenticity, and unfiltered joy can be.
“There’s a song on this album for every emotion you are feeling,” Cole adds, with a smile. “The human experience is a rollercoaster, and this album is a reminder of what it’s like to live, love, be hurt, and be transformed.”
Stela Cole doesn’t merely endure the pain—she leaves it behind. If there's one lesson from "Stereoqueen," it’s that sometimes, healing involves cranking up the music and dancing your way back to yourself.
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We don’t always choose our daydreams; occasionally, they burst forth, vivid and colorful, like a song composing itself. “Carrie” came to Canadian singer/songwriter Breagh Isabel in this way: A brief encounter with a stranger in the park ignited a wave of imagination, blossoming into a lively queer love song that encapsulates the essence of a summer crush. Radiant with '80s synths and pulsating beats, “Carrie” is both playful and passionate, tender and electric—a fantasy you long to inhabit, accompanied by a chorus that will have you singing along before the track ends.
I can’t stop thinking ’bout
I can’t stop thinking ’bout
Carrie
My favorite daydream
Lovin’ you is easy
wait ‘til you meet me
I can’t stop thinking ’bout
I can’t stop thinking ’bout
Carrie, Carrie
Co-written with Robyn Dell’Unto on a spring day in Nashville, “Carrie” encapsulates the thrill of an untold story—one that may never unfold. Isabel sings, "Give you a name 'cause I’ll never find out… Lovin’ you is easy, wait til you meet me," her voice weaving secrets into the air. “It’s a love song for someone you’ll never meet,” she explains. “I believe it captures how our minds can spiral into all the 'what-ifs' of a relationship before it begins and even when we know absolutely nothing about the person.
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This week's Editor's Picks, curated by Mitch Mosk, showcases music from Stela Cole, Breagh Isabel, Debbii Dawson, aleksiah, Royel Otis, and Benson Boone!