Stela Cole transforms heartbreak into an electrifying anthem of empowerment with “Stereoqueen,” a dazzling disco-pop celebration of self-worth, freedom, and igniting your passion on the dance floor. In our conversation, the emerging artist explores the emotional journey of her debut album ‘I Die Where You Begin’ and how embracing her vulnerability has enabled her to reclaim her strength.
Streaming: “Stereoqueen” – Stela Cole
To be a Stereoqueen embodies strength and liberation. It’s about enjoying a wild night out with friends, grooving to timeless tracks, and letting go of the past's burdens. It involves striving for the best version of yourself and coming to terms with who you used to be to move forward.
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Experiencing that first night out post-breakup is unlike anything else – the freedom, the rush, and the underlying pain that stays with you. Stela Cole encapsulates this emotional whirlwind into a vibrant explosion on “Stereoqueen,” an alluring disco-pop standout from her debut album I Die Where You Begin (released independently on April 18th via her own Stelavision Records). The radiant guitars and glamorous harmonies sizzle with intensity as Cole seizes her power on the dance floor, her voice resonating with passion and defiance. “Don’t try talkin’ to me / Tonight I’m gonna be the stereoqueen,” she declares with determination, every note brimming with confidence and self-assurance.
Stereoqueen – Stela Cole
Don't try talkin’ to me
Tonight I’m gonna be
the stereoqueen
Dancing like it’s 1973, uh
Baby, I don’t need ya,
swear that I don’t need ya, no
Don’t try trippin’ my feet
Tonight I’m gonna be
the stereoqueen
Dancing like you don’t
mean nothin’ to me
Baby, I don’t need ya,
swear that I don’t need ya, no
“This song captures the excitement of that first night out post-breakup and what it feels like to rediscover your identity,” Cole shares with Atwood Magazine. “It’s high-energy, joyful, and fun, while also acknowledging the past and the anxieties that come with being newly single and facing the world without the person you once considered home... regardless of whether they were good for you.” This tension is what gives “Stereoqueen” its emotional depth – a bold, fiery anthem that dances through the painful memories and into a resilient, powerful present.
I, I wanna dance
(dancin’, dancin’, dancin’)
Wanna prance up on the mattress
Snow angels on the floor
And I put myself up in a trance
Performing like an actress
While you’re bangin’ down my door
Cole describes this moment as the “empowering phase” in her debut album’s narrative – “the moment after you've finally walked away from someone who hurt you, and that adrenaline rush hits” while your self-worth returns – or as she expresses it, “You feel unstoppable.”
“Being a Stereoqueen means being strong and setting yourself free,” she explains. “It’s about having a wild night out, dancing to the classics, and shedding the weight of the past… For me, it’s about reclaiming independence after a painful breakup that caused me to lose sight of myself for a time.” There’s a toughness within that glory, and a whisper of uncertainty lingers in the song’s bridge: “You might f* with me tomorrow, but tonight I’m in my feels.”
I Die Where You Begin – Stela Cole
Don’t try talkin’ to me
Tonight I’m gonna be
the stereoqueen
Dancing like it’s 1973, uh
Baby, I don’t need ya,
swear that I don’t need ya, no
Don’t try trippin’ my feet
Tonight I’m gonna be
the stereoqueen
Dancing like you don’t
mean nothin’ to me
Baby, I don’t need ya,
swear that I don’t need ya, no
“Stereoqueen” is intoxicating and passionate, an irresistible throwback that remains thoroughly contemporary – and is a standout track on an album brimming with emotional highs and lows. As Cole notes, I Die Where You Begin represents her “artistic home base,” and songs like this remind us how exhilarating a foundation built on liberation, truth, and unrefined joy can sound.
If I’m being honest,
I’ll make you a deal
You might f* with me tomorrow,
but tonight I’m in my feels
And I feel, oh
Like breakin’ it down,
two, three, four
“There’s a song on this album for every emotion you might be experiencing,” Cole adds with a smile. “The human experience is a rollercoaster, and this album serves as a reminder of what it’s like
Stela Cole transforms heartbreak into a powerful surge of empowerment with “Stereoqueen,” a glamorous disco-pop anthem celebrating self-worth, freedom, and igniting your passion on the dance floor. In our conversation, the emerging artist explores the emotional journey of her debut album 'I Die Where You Begin' and discusses how embracing vulnerability has allowed her to regain her strength.